Francis, Clare - Teach Us to Pray - Presenter: Sister Maryann Dosen, SSFCR - Saturday December 14, 2024
By Mary Mosser, FSC Associate
Sr. Maryann started our day with St. Francis’ prayer before the crucifix from 1205/1206. Sister summarized what she had gathered about prayer when researching St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare of Assisi then began explaining St. Francis’ journey with prayer.
We started with Francis’ Testament. In 1226, shortly before he died, Francis wrote his Testament with the assistance of Brother Leo. The Testament was to serve as a guideline for the Brothers’ way of life. Francis’ Testament shows how his prayer life evolved.
Francis’ prayers changed from his early years to his later years. In the early years, Francis prayed for himself. Francis was born into a wealthy family. In his twenties, he took part in a war between Assisi and Perugia. He was captured and was held prisoner for nearly a year. After returning home, Francis began to change.
Saint Francis and Brother Leo
by El Greco (1609)
Leprosy in La Franceschina, (1474)
by Jacopo Oddi
Francis wrote about himself in verses 1-3 of his Testament. He explained how he was inspired by God to begin a life of penance. Francis wrote about his conversion in which he changed from being repulsed by lepers to showing mercy to a leper. Francis abandoned his wealthy lifestyle and began following Jesus.
In verses 4-5 of his Testament, Francis talked about how God gave him faith in churches. Francis passed along this prayer to his friars that he often said when he encountered a church; "We adore you, Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all your churches in the whole world, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world."
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In his middle years, Francis was concerned about the Brothers who followed him. He looked to the Gospel so he could become an example of how the Brothers should live. Francis’ Testament verse 14 says; “When God gave me some friars, there was no one to tell me what I should do; but the Most High himself made it clear to me that I must live the life of the Gospel”. In Verse 18 of his Testament, Francis showed the importance of prayer for the Brothers. He made note of the fact that the cleric Brothers said the Office and the lay Brothers said the Our Father.
In his later years, Francis prayed for the cosmos. In 1224, two years before he died, Francis wrote the Canticle of Creation. It’s a hymn of praise for all of creation – Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Brothers Wind and Air, Sister Water, Brother Fire, Sister Earth, and Sister Death. One of the questions Sr. Maryann posed to us when she was talking about Francis’ Canticle of Creation was: Do we realize that God who created us, created everything? This was a good reminder to be grateful for the things that I take for granted like water and the sun.
Francis teaches us that prayer should be an ever-growing relationship with God and with others. He also reminds us to set a good example for others in how we pray and how we live.
After talking about Francis’ prayer journey, we looked at Clare’s letters to Agnes of Prague for insight into her prayer life. Clare’s 2nd letter to Agnes gave the following advice; “Most noble queen, gaze, consider, contemplate, desiring to imitate your spouse.” Clare encouraged Agnes to become Christ-like by gazing at the cross.
St. Francis by
Giovanni Cimabue
Clare prayed before the cross at the Church of San Damiano for more than 40 years. This cross tells the story of Jesus’ Passion. In her 4th letter to Agnes of Prague, Clare advised Agnes to gaze into the cross as she would gaze into a ‘mirror’. Clare invited Agnes to reflect on Jesus’ infancy and His poverty. Clare asked Agnes to contemplate how much Jesus suffered for all of us and died a painful, shameful death on the cross.
Sr. Maryann posed some questions to us for consideration when she talked about Clare’s advice to Agnes. A few of Sister’s questions were: When we gaze at Jesus on the cross, do we let the eyes of Christ penetrate our soul? Do we let Jesus see us where we are at that moment? When we consider Christ on the cross, what speaks to us? When we try to imitate Christ, are we willing to show the love of Christ to everyone?
Sr. Maryann’s presentation was interesting. One of my takeaways from her presentation seems obvious, but it was something I hadn’t thought of before. As shown by St. Francis, one’s prayer life evolves and changes over the years. Another takeaway was St. Clare’s advice to Agnes. I would like to make time to gaze, consider and contemplate Jesus on the cross along with reflecting on the questions that Sr. Maryann posed to us.
Saint Clare from a fresco (1320)
by Simone Martini