St. Clare

Broke tradition, created tradition

Sunday, August 11 –

Today is the feast day for Saint Clare of Assisi, a woman brave enough to step outside social expectations to follow her faith and call. The story is told - Clare left her father's home in the night and met Francis and his brothers on the road with torches. In a small chapel, she was received into the Franciscan order (first woman). It was a radical move that begin her journey to start the order of the Poor Clares. Having just celebrated the 50th anniversary of women's ordination in the Episcopal church, I give thanks for her example and ministry.

(Image: mural at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco)