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The Blessing
(1253)
Introduction
The Legend of Saint Clare 45 describes the last hours of the saint’s life and tells of her blessing the sisters of San Damiano as well as those of the other monasteries and those who would come in the future. This is possibly the source of the special blessings that have been traditionally attributed to Saint Clare. However, there is also evidence of a blessing that Saint Clare sent to Blessed Agnes of Prague, another sent to Ermentrude of Bruges, and a third to all the sisters. The earliest known text of the blessing is found in a Middle High German translation in a manuscript associated with the Fourth Letter to Agnes of Prague that is dated 1350.a A Latin text, associated with Ermentrude of Bruges, comes from a much later period, the seventeenth century,b and another text addressed to all the sisters is found in various languages in manuscripts of different dates.c The tradi- tion of the Order of Saint Clare has always considered this text as a pre- cious remembrance similar to that blessing given by Saint Francis to Brother Leo while they were on La Verna.d
1In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
2May the Lord bless you and keep you.
3May He show His face to you and have mercy on you.
4May He turn His countenance to you and give peace to you, my sisters and daughters, 5and to all others who come and remain in
- Cf. Walter W. Seton, “Some New Sources for the Life of Blessed Agnes of Prague, including some Chronological Notes and a New Text of the Benediction of Saint Clare,” Archivum Franciscanum Historicum 7 (1914): 185-197. Hereafter, AFH; idem, “The Oldest Text of the Benediction of Saint Clare of Assisi,” Revue d’Histoire Franciscaine 2 (1925): 88-90; C. Mark Borkowski, “A Second Middle High German Translation of the Benediction of Saint Clare,” Franciscan Studies 36 (1976): 99-104.
- Cf. David deKok, “De origine Ordinis S. Clarae in Flandria,” AFH 7 (1914): 244-245.
- Cf. Ubald d’Alençon, “Le plus ancien texte de la bénédiction, du privilège de la pauvreté et du testament de sainte Claire d’Assise,” Revue d’Histoire Franciscaine 1 (1924): 469-482; Diego Ciccarelli, “Contributi alla recensione degli scritti di S. Chiara,” Miscellanea Francescana 70 (1979): 353-355; David deKok, “S. Clarae Benedictionis textus neerlandici,” AFH 40 (1947): 290-291.
- Cf. Francis and Clare, 99-100.
Epistola Ad Sanctam Agnetem De Praga III, Fontes Franciscani, p. 2323
Benedictio Clarae
Incipit Benedictio eiusdem sanctae Clarae sororibus suis praesentibus et futuris.
1In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti.
2Benedicat vobis Dominus et custodiat vos;
3ostendat faciem suam vobis et misereatur vestri;
4convertat vultum suum ad vos et det vobis pacem, sororibus et filiabus meis, 5et omnibus aliis venturis et permansuris in nostro collegio et ceteris aliis tam praesentibus quam futuris, quae finaliter perseveraverint in omnibus aliis monasteriis pauperum dominarum.