Sainthood at speed

I blogged last week (7 August) about the mediaeval Carmelite St Albert of Trapani and about the delightful story that has his admirers disputing with the priests at his funeral; the admirers wanted him to have the rite appropriate to a saint, but the priests were reluctant.  Now I discover that with today’s saint – the foundress of the Poor Clares, the wonderful Clare of Assisi (1193-1253) – a similar thing happened.  Pope Innocent IV, who was present at her death, wanted the Friars and Sisters to sing the mass of a Virgin Saint, but he was dissuaded by a Cardinal who was worried about an over-hasty declaration of sainthood.  As it was, she was canonised just two years later. In her later years Clare was confined to bed and could not attend Mass. She sighed and said: “Look, Lord God. I have been left here all alone with you“. Then she began to hear the organ and the Office and Mass and to see it on the wall of her room as if she was present there herself. Probably with this miracle in mind Pope Pius XII in 1958 proclaimed her patroness of television (Apostolic Letter 21.8.1958).  I find it fascinating that what is probably the foremost evangelising television network in the world, the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) was founded by an American Poor Clare nun, Mother Angelica.  St Teresa tells us in her autobiography that St Clare helped her when she was establishing her foundations, appearing to her in a dream and assuring her of her aid.

Intercessions:

Cancer: Brian Davis, Marie, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Sue B, Theresa K, Fr Jon

Siena, Elara – sick children

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David OCDS - housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Joy Smith OCDS – seriously ill

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)