Daybreak

Monday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Clare of Assisi, 1194-1253; lifelong friend and spiritual student of St. Francis; at 18, she escaped from her father's house, and was placed in a Benedictine convent by St. Francis; as her father and uncles stormed the convent, she clung to the altar of the church, and remained adamant; her sister Agnes and others joined her; they lived a simple life of great poverty, austerity, and complete seclusion from the world, according to a Rule which Francis gave them as a Second Order; she became abbess at the age of 21, and remained in that position until her death Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 8/11/25 Gospel: Matthew 17:22-27