Daily Prayers for August 11
Clare of Assisi (1194 – 1255)
Clare Offreduccio was born into Italian nobility in 1194. She ran away from home at the age of eighteen after hearing St. Francis preach on the streets of Assisi. She chose to wed Christ instead of the man her parents wanted her to marry. With Francis’ help, she founded the Franciscan monastic community of the Order of Poor Ladies (The Poor Clares) at San Damiano. Clare became abbess of the order in 1216 and led the sisters in their commitment to poverty and manual labor. Her own mother and sisters later joined the order. As abbess she fought hard to resist any papal orders that the Poor Clares establish a rule of life. She is often depicted holding a monstrance, symbolizing her use of the blessed sacrament to defend her convent from invaders.
O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you
as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Come, let us bow down and the bend the knee : let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
Song “O Lord, Have Mercy”
In your mercy, receive us, Lord : and give us grace to cling to you.
Psalm 57:1 – 5
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful, for I have taken refuge in you : in the shadow of your wings will I take refuge until this time of trouble has gone by.
I will call upon the Most High God : the God who maintains my cause.
He will send from heaven and save me; he will confound those who trample upon me : God will send forth his love and his faithfulness.
I lie in the midst of lions that devour the -people : their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongue a sharp sword.
They have laid a net for my feet, and I am bowed low : they have dug a pit before me, but have fallen into it themselves.
In your mercy, receive us, Lord : and give us grace to cling to you.
1 Sam-uel 17:17 – 30 Matthew 26:69 – 75
In your mercy, receive us, Lord : and give us grace to cling to you.
When the pope offered to absolve Clare from her rigorous vow of poverty, she answered, “Absolve me from my sins, Holy Father, but not from my wish to follow Christ.”
Prayers for Others
Our Father
Lord, help us to be faithful, even when we face our own fears. Remind us that we are your children, even when we feel inadequate. We know that you have overcome giants and crosses and all things evil. Help our unbelief. Amen.
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you : wherever he may send you;
may he guide you through the wilderness : protect you through the storm;
may he bring you home rejoicing : at the wonders he has shown you;
may he bring you home rejoicing : once again into our doors.
