Saturday, August 23 : Saint Clare

O blessed poverty, who bestows eternal riches on those who love and embrace her! O holy poverty, to those who possess and desire you God promises the kingdom of heaven and offers, indeed, eternal glory and blessed life! O God-centered poverty, whom the Lord Jesus Christ who ruled and now rules heaven and earth, “Who spoke and things were made,” (Ps 33[32],9) condescended to embrace before all else! “The foxes have dens,” he says, “and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man,” Christ, “has nowhere to lay His head” (Mt 8:20), but “but bowing his head, gave up his spirit” (Jn 19:30). If so great and good a Lord, then, on coming into the Virgin’s womb, chose to appear despised, needy, and poor in this world, so that people who were in utter poverty and want and in absolute need of heavenly nourishment might become rich in him by possessing the kingdom of heaven, then rejoice and be glad! Be filled with a remarkable happiness and a spiritual joy! Contempt of the world has pleased you more than [its] honors, poverty more than earthly riches, and you have sought to store up greater treasure in heaven rather than on earth, “where rust does not consume nor moth destroy nor thieves break in and steal” (Mt 6:20). “Your reward,” then, “is very great in heaven” (Mt 5:12)!

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team