It was only a few days ago when I was visiting an elderly woman of this parish. She told me of her desire to attend Mass, but due to her age she was unable to get out and do so. She mentioned how she just figured out that her cable had EWTN and how she could at least watch Mass daily on television. Saint Clare is the patron of television because when she was sick and unable to attend Mass daily she could hear and see the Mass celebrated from the wall of her room. This of course was well before the invention of the television.
Today's Gospel presents us with the message of compassion. Each of us has received so much, but it can be easy to forget that. Our lives should be centered upon Christ so much that we should never forget to treat others with the compassion that they deserve. If our actions tear apart our relation with Christ we need to reform them, so that our outward actions may reflect our spiritual life. Saint Clare had compassion when she began the order that would become known as the Poor Clares. The rule of this order would respect the spiritual life and would help each other to treat all as Christ.
From the Eucharist we receive we are given the strength to have compassion for our neighbor. We cannot receive Christ and not have concern for those who we will encounter. Saint Clare had great devotion to the Eucharist and is often depicted holding a pyx or a monstrance. This comes from an encounter with Frederick II and his army attacking the gates of the convent when she came out holding onto the Eucharist in deep prayer. "deliver not to beasts, O Lord, the souls of those who confess to thee."This caused the armies to flee showing to us today that Christ in the Eucharist gives great strength to our souls. The devil will never be able to prevail against us and we will have the grace needed to not hoard the gifts given to us, but instead be wiling to share them with the world.
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