A Reimagined Reflection By Lady Clare: At The Passing of Francis
By Sister Joanne Schatzlein, OSF
Sister Joanne Schatzlein, OSF, is a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In addition to serving in leadership within her congregation, she serves as a pilgrimage leader for Franciscan Pilgrimages. Her article below recreates, in the voice of St. Clare of Assisi, Clare’s grief at the death of St. Francis, the bond that shaped her vocation, and her determination to preserve their shared Franciscan way of life after his transitus.
When Brother Leo informed me that Francis had died on October 3, I felt as if I had lost half my soul, a feeling I carried for the rest of my life. I should have been prepared for Francis’ passing, but being quite ill myself, I thought I would embrace Sister Death before him. I am forever grateful that the brothers carried Francis’ body up to our dwelling at San Damiano so we could bid farewell. We did not let the grill stop us from embracing him, kissing his wounds and seeing his face one last time.
It was Francis’ preaching that first stirred my call to reject noble suitors and dedicate my life to God. As a penitent, I cared for those in need, provided food from our family table, and deepened my life of prayer. Francis continued to advise and mentor me, inviting me to join his brothers as a companion and literally to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.
Within two years, he prepared a dwelling place for me and other women, including my widowed mother, Ortulana; my sisters Catherine and Beatrice; and many noble women from Assisi. Of course, this did not sit well with my extended Offreduccio family. They even used their knightly force to try and change our minds, but nothing could deter us.
Francis attracted large numbers of followers and large numbers listened to his preaching; his time with us Poor Ladies was precious but rare. He commissioned his closest companions to see that we were well cared for, both, physically and spiritually. However, after his death, we had to defend our position as followers of Francis without him.
Though our way of life was respected by Pope Gregory IX, many of his mandates made it difficult for us, especially when he forced the Rule of St. Benedict upon us. I steadfastly fought this imposition. I was not alone. God provided a strong woman to help. She was the influential Princess Agnes from Prague, who desired to share and protect our “Damianite” way of life.
The two of us corresponded. We strengthened each other in our vision as followers of Francis. We mirrored the same desire to follow the Rule of Francis, to live poorly without dowries. In humiulity we have desired to be a healing presence inside, and beyond, our convents. The center of our mirror was Jesus. After many years, under several Popes who tried to appease us, I and my Sisters wrote our own Form of Life, incorporating the wisdom of Francis throughout. In my last letter to Agnes, sensing my impending death, I addressed her as “she who is half my soul.” Subsequently, Pope Innocent IV approved our Rule and Form of Life.
(St. Clare died in Assisi on August 11th, 1253, just three days after her Rule was approved. Her Rule was the first Rule of Life written by a woman to be confirmed by a pope.)
