Clare's Vision

The townspeople of Assisi shook their heads and clucked their tongues when they heard that the lovely young noblewoman, Clare, had slipped away from her family home to begin a new form of religious life for women.  It was bad enough that she had rejected any number of suitors with their promise of wealth and power.  What was worse was that she was not choosing one of the local Benedictine communities, financially secure and comfortable (and sensible), but running after Francis, who could have been a wealthy merchant like his father, but renounced it all for the life of a ragged itinerant preacher.  What on earth did Clare think she was doing? 

What Clare was doing was choosing to live, like Francis, in poverty in imitation of Jesus, who, though he was divine, took on the “poverty” of being human, with all the weakness and frailty that we experience.  The insecurity of having nothing to fall back on, relying on God’s goodness to provide for their needs, was a form of poverty unknown to religious communities until that time, the beginning of the thirteenth century.  So everyone was sure that Clare, a wise and thoughtful young woman, would soon come to her senses. 

To the surprise of all, Clare’s vision not only survived, it thrived.  Women flocked to join her in this new venture, drawn by the prospect of expressing one’s love for God by throwing all one’s trust for each day’s needs on him.  And God responded, providing for this community and all of its daughter houses down through the centuries.

As the twentieth century passed into the twenty-first, four of St. Clare’s daughters in religion arrived in Great Falls from the other side of the country at the invitation of Bishop Anthony Milone.  They, too, were thought to be less than sensible by many who knew them, for they were planning to establish a new foundation of Poor Clares with almost no money, and no familiarity at all with this part of the country or its people.  But the same loving, provident God who provided so well for St. Clare and her growing community has provided for us here in Montana.  Through the generosity of many caring friends, we now have a permanent home: a monastery that includes living and working space for ten sisters, a chapel and visiting areas for anyone who wishes to come, and accommodations for four retreatants who are looking to spend time in solitude and prayer. 

In her Testament, St. Clare encouraged her sisters to “bless and praise God and be strengthened more and more to do good in the Lord.”  Having seen the wonders that God has worked for us in enriching us with many good friends and supporters, surrounding us with the natural beauty of Montana, and giving us a strong and beautiful monastery, we, who have now grown to five with the addition of a new member, know that he will continue to be with us in all our needs.  We bless and praise our good God for all these things, and we daily pray for all of the people of Montana, who have become our extended family in the Lord.

Sister Catherine Cook, OSC

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