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6 When the Office in San Damiano was finished the Sisters returned to Saint Clare, and said: "O dearest Lady Clare, what great consolation we had on this Nativity of the Lord, our Savior! If only you could have been with us!" She replied: "I thank my Lord, the blessed Jesus Christ, my dearest daughters and sisters, because like you I was consoled at all the solemnities of this night and at greater and more devout solemnities than you. For by the work of my Lord Jesus Christ and the intercession of my most blessed Father Francis, I was present in the church of my father Francis, and with my bodily and spiritual ears, I heard all the singing and the instruments, and moreover I received Communion there. Therefore, rejoice at the great gift given to me, and with your whole heart praise the blessed Christ Jesus, because I lay here ill and—I do not know how—whether in the body or outside the body, I was present, as I said, for the whole solemnity at Saint Francis.
To the praise and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
XLII
SAINT CLARE MIRACULOUSLY STAMPS THE CROSS ON LOAVES OF BREADa
1 Saint Clare, the most devoted disciple of the cross and precious little plant of Blessed Francis, was a woman of such holiness that not only bishops and cardinals but even the Supreme Pontiff affectionately desired to see and hear her, and often personally visited her.b One time the pope came to the monastery of Saint Clare in order to hear from her, the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, heavenly and divine words. Both of them for a long time discussed the salvation of the soul and the praise of God. In the meantime, Saint Clare had loaves of bread for the Sisters arranged on all the tables, wishing the loaves of bread be kept to be blessed by the Vicar of Christ.
4 When their holy conversation was finished, Saint Clare genuflected with great reverence, and asked the Supreme Pontiff to bless the bread placed on the tables. The Pope, however, replied: "Faithful Sister Clare, I want you to bless this bread, and make over it the cross of the blessed Christ to whom you have offered yourself entirely as a rich sacrifice." But she replied: "Most holy Father, spare me, because
- There is a parallel between this chapter and ChrXXIVG 182-3.
- Innocent IV was in Assisi in April, May, and from June to October 6, 1253. Niccolò da Clavi's Vita Innocentii IV records two visits of the pope to San Damiano, cf. F. Pagnotti, "Niccolò da Clavi e la sua vita di Innocenzo IV," Archivo della Società Romana di storia patria, XXI (1898): 4-120.