Poor Clare of Jerusalem

Poor Clare of Jerusalem –  Sister Maria Innocentia, Fragrance of Victim Souls, O.S.C..                                           “Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!  Praise your God, O Zion!”  –  Ps. 147, 12                           “An act of perfect love is worth more than the whole world.”  –  Mo. Elisabeth of Calvary

Foundress:  Mother Elisabeth of Calvary, O.S.C. (  Élisabeth du Calvaire )                                                             (and 14 Sisters of Saint Clare from Paray-le-Monial, France )                                                                                                                                                                                                          Place:  Originally Nazareth; presently, Jerusalem, Israel                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Year:  Originally 1884 A.D. (Nazareth); May 7, 1888 A.D. Jerusalem                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Her Charism:  Consecrated to the mercy of God, this humble “Little Seed” is chosen to be a witness of Christ’s redemptive love for the world at the foot of Christ’s Calvary – in the Holy City that is the “heart” of the Sites of our Redemption.  This is both a grace and a vocation to a difficult yet joy-filled life of simplicity and self-giving.  Here, at the crossroads of humanity and religion she desires to be a little presence of St. Clare of Assisi and her charism: a prayerful memory of the life of Jesus, of the mystery of His Incarnation, of the gift of His life for the life of the world.  As a devout follower of Christ, her mission is prayer for the Church and intercession that broadens her horizons, opens her heart, and introduces her into the mystery of the life of the world.  Her prayers are like roots of a tree: hidden but the tree cannot live without its roots.   As a bride and spiritual mother she embraces the joys, hopes, pains and anguish of all mankind and offers her life of emulating Christ’s virtues for it.  While her body is limited in space in the cloister, her attention grows and grows.  With her contemplative mission being centered on the Pascal Mystery and Christ the “hidden treasure”  she responds to Christ’s voice that unceasingly resounds from Calvary:                        for this, she is HERE.  HERE she becomes a little child sitting in a classroom, learning about the beauty and diversity of religions and peoples – because a symphony requires diversity and complexity.  Butthis symphony is still unfinished.  And so, this Sister remains small, faithful, kind, poor, obedient, chaste, silent, passionate with an indomitable strength of character, and intimately joined to the Cross.  She cherishes Christ’s Presence in the Eucharist (her “mirror of salvation”) and listens attentively to the Word of God that still and always becomes flesh within the events of history and gives everything for God and with God.   Hers is a life of humble presence, prayer, praise, and penance for the glory of God and the salvation of the world.                                                                                                                                   ☩ Her Monastery of St. Clare is located on the road which connects Jerusalem and                     Bethlehem and it is distinguished by its simplicity and beauty.  The Visitation of Elizabeth by Mary is associated with locations close to Jerusalem since Elizabeth’s husband, Zechariah, performed his priestly duties at Herod’s Temple in Jerusalem. ☩