Saint Clare

How quickly 15 years has passed but I remember fondly the pilgrimage that I made with several classmates to Assisi, Italy, the home of Saint Francis and Saint Clare. It was a wonderful journey, being able to see the important items associated with these two saints. The Basilica of Saint Clare was in another part of the city, down from the Basilica of Saint Francis. The church was beautiful and in a separate chapel hung the San Damiano Crucifix where our Lord spoke to Saint Francis telling him to go and rebuild his church. Saint Francis was thinking more of the church building but our Lord was talking about the people who make up the church. After all these centuries we are still growing as a church and we continually need to be rebuilt. The gospel for today is appropriate, Matthew 18:21-19:1. It is one of those gospels that we need to put into practice with our lives. Peter says to Jesus, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus' response is, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times." The gift of forgiveness has no limits. It is a gift to be used at all times because God has forgiven us. Saint Clare and Saint Francis would want us to preach forgiveness, not just with words, but with our lives. Let us follow the example of these two saints and be an example of forgiveness as we go forth to build up the church in our midst. Saint Clare, pray for us!!!