Today in The Daily Office, we remember Clare of Assisi.
She was an Italian noblewoman who became the founder of the Order of Poor Ladies, known for her devotion to a life of radical poverty and prayer, her leadership as abbess of San Damiano, and her role as one of the first followers of St. Francis of Assisi.
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“We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become. If we love things, we become a thing. If we love nothing, we become nothing. Imitation is not a literal mimicking of Christ, rather it means becoming the image of the beloved, an image disclosed through transformation. This means we are to become vessels of God's compassionate love for others." - Clare of Assisi
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Clare of Assisi (1194-1253) was one of the first followers of St. Francis of Assisi and founded the Order of Poor Ladies, later known as the Poor Clares
She embraced a life of radical poverty and prayer, rejecting her noble upbringing to live in service of Christ
Clare wrote a Rule for her order emphasizing absolute poverty, which was approved by Pope Innocent IV just before her death
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She is credited with saving Assisi from invaders twice through her fervent prayers before the Blessed Sacrament
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Clare cared for St. Francis in his final illness and continued his work after his death, writing letters to encourage other abbesses across Europe
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She was canonized just two years after her death and is considered a model of Franciscan spirituality and devotion to the Eucharist
In today’s Daily Office, we remember Saint Lawrence, a deacon of the Church in Rome who was martyred in 258 AD under Emperor Valerian's persecution, known for his courageous faith and for declaring the poor and suffering to be the true treasures of the Church.
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📚 🍺 🔥 ✝️ 🍷 🏫
He is the Patron Saint of archivists, armories, book lovers, brewers, butchers, cooks, comedians, deacons, glaziers, laundry workers, librarians, firefighters, poor people, restaurateurs, schoolchildren, seminarians, tanners, vine growers, winemakers, and Rome.
He is invoked against fire and lumbago (lower back pain).
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Lawrence was chief of the seven deacons in Rome, responsible for administering church finances and caring for the poor.
During Emperor Valerian's persecution in 258 AD, Lawrence was ordered to surrender the Church's wealth but instead presented the poor as the true treasures of the Church
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For when the treasures of the Church were demanded from him, he promised that he would show them. On the following day he brought the poor together. When asked where the treasures were which he had promised, he pointed to the poor, saying: ‘These are the treasures of the Church.’
- Saint Ambrose of Milan
Today in the Daily Office, we remember Herman of Alaska (c. 1756-1837), a Russian Orthodox monk and missionary who became the first saint of North America, known for his tireless work evangelizing and protecting the native Alaskan people, his ascetic lifestyle, and his role as a spiritual father and wonderworker in the Orthodox Church.
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“The Lord gave this land to our beloved mother country like a new-born babe, who has not as yet any faculty to acquire knowledge, nor the sense to do so; because of its lack of strength and its infancy, it not only needs protection, but even support; but this it has as yet no ability to ask of anyone." - Herman of Alaska
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Born in Russia around 1756, Herman joined a monastery at 16 and later volunteered for the Alaskan mission in 1794.
Today in the Daily Office, we remember Saint Dominic (1170-1221), a Spanish priest and founder of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), known for his commitment to combating heresy through preaching, education, and evangelical poverty, as well as for establishing a new model of religious life that combined contemplative study with active ministry.
"Arm yourself with prayer rather than a sword; wear humility rather than fine clothes." - St. Dominic
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He founded the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) in 1216 to combat heresy through education, preaching, and exemplary Christian living.
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He emphasised theological study and education, establishing houses near universities and making learning central to his order's mission.
Today in the Daily Office we remember John Mason Neale (1818-1866).
🎶 Good Christian Men Rejoice!
He was an Anglican priest, scholar, and hymnwriter renowned for his translations of ancient hymns, his work in church architecture and liturgy, and his founding of the Sisterhood of St. Margaret, despite facing significant opposition for his high church views.
🎼 "Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice; now ye hear of endless bliss: Jesus Christ was born for this!"
-- John Mason Neale
In today’s Daily Office, we remember St Oswald, a 7th-century king of Northumbria who united his people in faith and peace. He was both a warrior and a witness to Christ, crowned in battle, sanctified in generosity, and martyred in prayer.
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After exile on Iona, Oswald returned to claim his throne. Before battle at Heavenfield (AD 634), he raised a cross and prayed with his troops. Victory followed and so did a kingdom transformed by faith.
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Oswald invited St Aidan from Iona to bring the Gospel to his people. He gave him Lindisfarne as a base for mission. Oswald often acted as translator, walking alongside Aidan as bishop and king served together.
In today’s Daily Office, we remember Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy member of the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin. Though a secret follower of Jesus, he stepped forward boldly after the crucifixion.
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He went to Pontius Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body, an unusual and risky act. Most would avoid association with a condemned man, but Joseph acted with courage and care.
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Joseph wrapped Jesus’ body in linen and placed it in his own new tomb, hewn from rock. This act fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy that the Messiah would be with the rich in death.