Saint of the Week
- August 11th. St. Clare.

She was born in Assisi in 1194, but nothing is known of her life until she was convened by the preaching of St. Francis, renounced her possessions and took the habit of a nun, joining him outside the town at the delapidated Portiuncula chapel. Formed in the religious life, she was then offered by Francis a house next to the church of San Damiano, below the town, where she became abbess of a community in 1215; her mother and two sisters became members. Their life was extremely poverty-stricken; a Papal privilege of 1228 allowed them to live entirely by asking for alms, without any kind of endowments. The Poor Clares spread rapidly, especially to Spain, though Clare never left her convent. Devoted to prayer and penance (and suffering from frequent ill-health) she interceded for her town in times of crisis. When the army of the Emperor Frederick II threatened Assisi, she had herself carried to the wall of the convent clutching the Blessed Sacrament, and the army apparently fled. That is why in art she is always shown holding a pyx or monstrance. She died in 1253 and was canonised in 1255. As with the male branch, controversy over absolute poverty continued after the death of the Founder. 
- reference

Benedictus ... Day by Day with Pope Benedict XVI, edited by Rev. Peter John Cameron OP. Magnificat/Ignatius Press, 2006.

Borrowing from some of the 85 theological books and 500 articles written by the present Pope, the editor offers a daily reflection suited to the church year. The Pope's theological studies and writings centered mostly on the Scriptures, the Sacred Liturgy, and Catholic Ecumenism. These three themes are the basis for the daily reflections.

Through his Scriptural writings, the Pope insists on the unity of the Old and New Testaments. This illuminates the central place of Jesus Christ in the salvation of the world. The liturgy of the Church has its source in the Eucharist.

This book gives daily samples from the Pope's richly textured insights into divine truth and presents many of the main themes of the faith. It offers the reader an excellent sampling of his writings.

- Thanks to Sr. Irene Hartman, O.P.  for this review.

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Web Site of the Week

- Poor Clares

Most are aware of the work of the Franciscan priests and brothers, but not so much of the "Poor Ladies" or "Sisters of St. Clare."  Also known as the 2nd order of Franciscans, these women trace the origin of their community to the ministry of St. Clare, whose feast day we noted above.  This article describes their spirituality and ministry.

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Joke of the Week

   A lady opened her refrigerator and saw a rabbit sitting on one of the shelves. "What are you doing in there?" she asked.
   The rabbit replied, "This is a Westinghouse, isn't it?"
   The lady confirmed, "Yes."
   "Well," the rabbit said, "I'm westing."

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A monastery decided to start a fish and chips store. When the store opened, a client comes in, and asks one of the clerics: are you the fish fryer? Oh, no, the cleric answers, I'm the chip monk!

(OK, that's about enough of that, right?)