The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

Today the Church celebrates Saint Clare of Assisi, one of the first followers of Saint Francis and foundress of the community that would become known as the Poor Clares.

Born in Assisi in 1193 or 1194 into a wealthy family, Clare was deeply moved by the preaching and example of Saint Francis of Assisi and his radical commitment to living the Gospel.

At around the age of 18, Clare secretly left her family home and travelled to the small chapel of the Portiuncula, where Francis and his brothers received her. There, her hair was cut and she exchanged her fine clothes for a simple religious habit, beginning a new life dedicated entirely to Christ.

Despite strong opposition from her family, Clare remained steadfast. Her younger sister Agnes soon joined her, followed by other women. Their community settled at San Damiano, outside Assisi, where they embraced a life centred on prayer, fraternity, service and Gospel poverty.

Clare became abbess of the community and remained so until her death. She cared particularly for her sick sisters and, despite suffering serious illness herself for many years, continued to guide the growing community.

Like Francis, Clare believed that following Christ meant placing complete trust in God. She worked throughout her life to preserve her community’s commitment to poverty. Shortly before her death, Pope Innocent IV approved her Rule, the first Rule written by a woman for a community of women to receive papal approval.

A famous tradition recalls that when San Damiano was threatened by attackers, Clare placed her trust in Christ and prayed before the Blessed Sacrament for the protection of her sisters. The attackers withdrew.

Saint Clare died on 11 August 1253 and was canonised just two years later by Pope Alexander IV.

Her life continues to remind us that our greatest treasure is found not in possessions, but in giving ourselves completely to Christ.

🙏 Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us.

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr, one of the most greatly venerated martyrs of the early Church.

Saint Lawrence served as one of the seven deacons of Rome under Pope Saint Sixtus II during the third century. As a deacon, Lawrence had particular responsibility for the Church’s material goods and for the care of the poor and those in need.

In the year 258, the Emperor Valerian ordered a persecution of the Church. Pope Sixtus II was arrested and martyred on 6 August. Just four days later, on 10 August, Lawrence also suffered martyrdom for his faith in Christ.

His witness made such a profound impression upon the early Christians that devotion to him spread rapidly throughout the Church.

One of the most famous traditions surrounding Saint Lawrence concerns the treasures of the Church. It is said that the Roman authorities, believing the Church possessed great material wealth, ordered Lawrence to surrender its treasures.

Lawrence asked for time to gather them.

Instead of presenting gold or silver, he gathered together the poor and those who depended upon the Church for help. Presenting them to the Roman authorities, Lawrence declared that these were the true treasures of the Church.

Tradition also holds that Lawrence was martyred by being burned upon a gridiron. While the precise circumstances of his death cannot be established with certainty, his martyrdom itself and the ancient devotion to him are firmly rooted in the life of the early Church.

A basilica was later built over his tomb in Rome, and San Lorenzo fuori le Mura – the Basilica of Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls – remains one of Rome’s great pilgrimage churches.

Saint Lawrence reminds us that the true riches of the Church are not found in possessions, but in Christ and in those whom He calls us to love and serve – particularly the poor, the vulnerable and those most in need.

May his courage strengthen us to remain faithful to Christ and his example inspire us to recognise and serve Christ in one another.

🙏 Saint Lawrence, pray for us.

Gospel
Matthew 14:22-33
‘Command me to come to you on the water.’

After the crowd had eaten and were satisfied: Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’ And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’

Saint Dominic was born around 1170 in Caleruega, in the Kingdom of Castile in Spain. Educated first under the guidance of a priest-uncle, he later studied the arts and theology at Palencia before being ordained to the priesthood.

Dominic became a canon at the cathedral of Osma, joining a community of priests seeking to live a common life inspired by the early Christians described in the Acts of the Apostles. His life at this stage was centred on prayer, study and contemplation. He might well have remained within this quiet pattern of religious life had a journey with his bishop not changed its direction completely.

Travelling through southern France with Bishop Diego of Osma, Dominic encountered the Cathar movement, often referred to at the time as the Albigensian heresy, which had become particularly influential in the region of Languedoc.

Cathar teaching presented a profound challenge to the Christian understanding of creation. It was based upon a dualistic view of reality, seeing the spiritual world as good and the material world as evil. This led its followers to reject central Christian beliefs, including the Incarnation of Christ and the sacraments. Its most committed members lived lives of severe asceticism, and their apparent simplicity and self-denial attracted considerable admiration.

Dominic recognised that the Church’s efforts to respond were struggling partly because of the contrast between the austere lives of the Cathar preachers and the way some Catholic preachers travelled and lived.

His response was not simply to preach more loudly, but to preach differently.

Dominic and several companions began travelling on foot, embracing poverty and simplicity and preaching the Gospel through both their words and the witness of their lives. For around ten years, Dominic devoted himself to this missionary work, combining intense prayer and contemplation with active preaching.

Gradually, a community of preachers formed around him. In 1215, Dominic established a religious community at Toulouse which became the foundation of the Order of Preachers, better known today as the Dominicans. The Order received papal confirmation the following year.

At the heart of Dominic’s vision was the conviction that contemplation and active ministry should not be separated. Prayer, study and a deep relationship with God were to nourish the preacher, who would then share with others what had been received in contemplation.

This Dominican ideal would later be expressed in the phrase contemplata aliis tradere — to hand on to others the fruits of contemplation.

Saint Dominic spent the remainder of his life travelling, preaching and establishing communities of friars dedicated to this mission. He died in Bologna on 6 August 1221 and was canonised by Pope Gregory IX in 1234.

His legacy continues through the Dominican family throughout the world: a life rooted in prayer and study, but always directed towards proclaiming the truth of the Gospel to others.

Gospel
Matthew 16:24-28
‘What shall a man give in return for his soul?’

At that time: Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.’ Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’