St. Clare of Assisi: The Beauty the World Cannot Give You

About this sermon

St. Clare of Assisi had beauty, wealth, status, and the possibility of an impressive marriage—but she chose Jesus Christ instead. Born into a noble family in 1194, Clare possessed beauty, intelligence, and charm. Yet from childhood she loved prayer, cared for the poor, practiced penance, and cultivated a deep devotion to Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. At eighteen, Clare heard St. Francis of Assisi preach on penance and contempt for the world. Recognizing God's call, she secretly left home on Palm Sunday. Before the altar, St. Francis cut her hair, gave her a simple veil and penitential garment, and helped her begin the religious life. She eventually became the mother and founder of the Poor Clares. One of the most dramatic events of her life occurred when hostile forces attacked her convent at San Damiano. Though seriously ill, Clare had herself carried to a window with the Blessed Sacrament and prayed for God's protection. According to the account, the attackers were seized with panic and fled. But St. Clare's life teaches something our culture desperately needs: True beauty is the beauty of the soul. Purity. Humility. Voluntary poverty. Penance. Love of God. The fashionable and wealthy people of Clare's generation have largely disappeared from memory. Clare remains. Why? Because lasting glory isn't found in appearances, possessions, popularity, or human praise. It is found in virtue. Clare even preferred receiving Jesus in Holy Communion to the worldly honor of receiving a papal visit near the end of her life. May we learn to seek the glory that lasts forever. 🙏 St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us. 00:00 – St. Clare of Assisi 00:12 – St. Francis & the Franciscan Life 00:37 – Clare's Noble Family & Childhood 01:16 – Beauty, Suitors & Love for the Poor 01:33 – Clare's Life of Prayer 01:40 – Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament 01:56 – Clare Hears St. Francis Preach 02:20 – Clare Secretly Leaves Home 02:44 – Meeting St. Francis by Candlelight 02:52 – St. Francis Cuts Clare's Hair 03:08 – The Founding of the Poor Clares 03:26 – Clare's Sister Agnes Joins Her 03:34 – Life at San Damiano 03:42 – St. Clare Becomes Abbess 04:04 – Clare's Penance & Prayer 04:14 – An Army Approaches Assisi 04:32 – St. Clare Takes the Blessed Sacrament 04:47 – Clare's Prayer for Protection 05:04 – The Attackers Flee 05:21 – St. Clare's Final Illness 05:38 – The Death of St. Clare 05:46 – Clare Is Canonized 05:53 – Patron Saint of Television 06:06 – The Greatest Glory 06:22 – What Is True Beauty? 06:38 – The Beauty of Virtue 06:55 – Why St. Clare Is Still Remembered 07:12 – Where Do You Seek Glory? 07:20 – Why Clare Hid Her Virtues 08:09 – A Life Hidden With Christ 08:26 – Happiness Through Sacrifice 08:42 – Self-Denial & Eternal Joy 09:07 – St. Clare Receives Holy Viaticum 09:21 – Christ Above Earthly Glory 09:35 – Prayer to St. Clare Support the Marian Friars Minor at https://marianfriarsminor.com 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 #StClareOfAssisi #CatholicSaints #BlessedSacrament #CatholicFaith #Franciscan #StClare #SaintClare #StFrancisOfAssisi #PoorClares #FranciscanSpirituality #CatholicSaints #LivesOfTheSaints #HolyEucharist #BlessedSacrament #TrueBeauty #CatholicSpirituality #CatholicFaith #CatholicChurch #JesusChrist #SaintOfTheDay