My column this week is an addendum to my homily last weekend in which I shared some of the life story of St. Clare of Assisi who was a disciple of St. Francis of Assisi. She abandoned a life of wealth and privilege to follow Christ in simplicity of life. Along with St. Francis she founded an order of Sisters, the Poor Clares in Assisi and was their first Abbess for over 42 years. On the same weekend that I preached about St. Clare (during which we celebrated her feast day (August 11), I read from my book, "Padre Pio's Spiritual Direction for Every Day" and the following was what was there for August 12. After reading it, I hope you reflect on how God's power is at work continually and at all times through those like St. Clare who put their trust and hope in Him.
The following was written by St. Padre Pio to one of his spiritual children, Graziella Pannullo:
Recalling the wonders of that time of St. Francis and St. Clare, I think of the beloved first female disciple of the seraphic father in the deep and solemn silence of the austere refectory . . . .
One day there was only one loaf of bread left in the convent, and it was lunchtime. Although the sisters had overcome their hunger pains, they could not ignore the imperious necessities of life forever. Sister Cecilia, in the refectory, explained the situations to the holy abbess, who ordered the loaf be cut in two: one half for the brothers who were keeping watch in the monastery and one half for the sisters. She instructed that the half loaf for the sisters be divided into fifty portions, the number of sisters . . . But when the devoted daughter responded that the ancient miracles of Jesus would be needed in order to divide the small half loaf into fifty parts, St. Clare responded, "Proceed exactly the way I instruct you."
The obedient daughter hurried to fulfill her command, and Mother Clare hurried to Jesus in prayer with pitiful sighs for her daughters. By divine grace the half loaf multiplied in the hands of the one who broke it, and each sister had a copious portion.
The following was written by St. Padre Pio to one of his spiritual children, Graziella Pannullo:
Recalling the wonders of that time of St. Francis and St. Clare, I think of the beloved first female disciple of the seraphic father in the deep and solemn silence of the austere refectory . . . .
One day there was only one loaf of bread left in the convent, and it was lunchtime. Although the sisters had overcome their hunger pains, they could not ignore the imperious necessities of life forever. Sister Cecilia, in the refectory, explained the situations to the holy abbess, who ordered the loaf be cut in two: one half for the brothers who were keeping watch in the monastery and one half for the sisters. She instructed that the half loaf for the sisters be divided into fifty portions, the number of sisters . . . But when the devoted daughter responded that the ancient miracles of Jesus would be needed in order to divide the small half loaf into fifty parts, St. Clare responded, "Proceed exactly the way I instruct you."
The obedient daughter hurried to fulfill her command, and Mother Clare hurried to Jesus in prayer with pitiful sighs for her daughters. By divine grace the half loaf multiplied in the hands of the one who broke it, and each sister had a copious portion.