Saint of the day · August 11
St Clare of Assisi
MemorialTuesday, week 19 in Ordinary Time
Liturgical colour : White
St Clare of Assisi is celebrated today as a remarkable figure in the history of the Church, recognized for her deep spiritual friendship with St Francis of Assisi and for founding the Order of Poor Ladies, now known as the Poor Clares. Born in 12th-century Assisi, Clare was moved by the ideals of poverty and humility embraced by Francis, and despite obstacles, she left her family to dedicate her life to Christ. She established a community of women committed to radical poverty, prayer, and seclusion, emphasizing trust in God's providence over material security. Clare's leadership and writings inspired her sisters to live out the Gospel fully, and she showed extraordinary courage during times of physical illness and external threats, relying always on faith and prayer. St Clare was the first woman to write a Rule of Life for a monastic community, approved by the pope shortly before her death. The Church honors her not only for her personal holiness but also for her role in advancing the place of women in spiritual life, her perseverance, and her example of joyous trust in God.
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The liturgical day
Mass readings
"He made me eat the scroll, and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey" — Ez 2, 8 – 3, 4
The word of the Lord was addressed to me:
"You, son of man, listen to what I say to you.
Do not be rebellious
like this band of rebels.
Open your mouth,
and eat what I give you."
Then I saw a hand stretched out toward me,
holding a book in the form of a scroll.
It unrolled it in front of me;
this scroll was written on both the inside and the outside,
filled with lamentations, mourning, and woes.
The Lord said to me:
"Son of man, what is before you, eat it,
eat this scroll!
Then, go! Speak to the house of Israel."
I opened my mouth, he made me eat the scroll
and he said to me:
"Son of man, fill your stomach,
satisfy your innermost being
with this scroll that I am giving you."
I ate it,
and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey.
He then said to me:
"Stand up, son of man!
Go to the house of Israel,
and speak my words to them."
– The word of the Lord.
Ps 118 (119), 14.24, 72.103, 111.131
I find more joy in following your commands
than in all riches.
I find my delight in your precepts:
they are my counselors.
My happiness is the law of your mouth,
more than a heap of gold or silver.
How sweet to my taste is your promise:
honey has less flavor in my mouth!
Your precepts will remain my heritage,
the joy of my heart.
With open mouth I long,
thirsting for your will.
"See that you do not despise even one of these little ones" — Mt 18, 1-5.10.12-14
At that time, the disciples approached Jesus and said to him:
"Who then is the greatest
in the kingdom of heaven?"
Then Jesus called a little child;
he placed him among them,
and he declared:
"Amen, I say to you:
unless you change
and become like children,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
But whoever becomes humble like this child,
that one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name,
welcomes me.
See that you do not despise even one of these little ones,
for, I tell you, their angels in heaven
always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
What do you think?
If someone owns a hundred sheep
and one of them goes astray,
does he not leave the ninety-nine others
in the mountains
to go in search of the lost sheep?
And, if he happens to find it,
amen, I say to you:
he rejoices over it
more than over the ninety-nine
that did not go astray.
In the same way, your Father in heaven
does not want even one of these little ones to be lost."
– Let us acclaim the Word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org