CLARE OF ASSISI
11 August
Collect
God of peace,
who in the poverty of the blessed Clare
gave us a clear light to shine in the darkness of this world:
give us grace so to follow in her footsteps
that we may, at the last, rejoice with her in your eternal glory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
First Reading
Hosea 2.14-15,19-20
I will now allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. From there I will give her her vineyards, and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she shall respond as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. And I will take you for my spouse forever; I will take you for my spouse in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. I will take you for my spouse in faithfulness; and you shall know the Lord.
Psalm or Canticle
Psalm 62
R On God alone my soul waits in stillness.
1 On God alone my soul in stillness waits; *
from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
my stronghold, so that I shall never be shaken. R
3 How long will all of you assail me to destroy me, *
as you would a tottering wall or a leaning fence?
4 They plot only to thrust me down from my place of honour;
lies are their chief delight; *
they bless with their mouth, but in their heart they curse. R
5 Wait on God alone in stillness, O my soul; *
for in him is my hope.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken. R
7 In God is my strength and my glory; *
God is my strong rock; in him is my refuge.
8 Put your trust in him always, my people; *
pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge. R
Second Reading
2 Corinthians 4. 6-10
It is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.
The Holy Gospel
John 15. 4-10
Jesus said to his disciples, “Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.”
Post Communion
Merciful God, who gave such grace to your servant Clare
that she served you with singleness of heart and loved you above all things:
help us, whose communion with you has been renewed in this sacrament,
to forsake all that holds us back from following Christ
and to grow into his likeness from glory to glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
God give you grace to follow his saints
in faith and hope and love;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Copyright acknowledgement
Some material included in this service is copyright: © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops' Council 2000
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Society of St Francis European Province
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