Homily delivered for St Francis of Assisi's Sporting Houses School Liturgy (Feast of Saint Clare of Assisi), in St Peter Chanel Church, Tannum Sands, Qld.

"My child, always be humble, and all of God’s people will love you. The more important you are, the more humble you should be. This will please the Lord. The Lord has great power, and it is praised by those by those who are humble." (cf. Sir 3:17-20).

"I will bless the Lord at all times. I will always praise the Lord; with all my heart, I will praise the Lord. Let all who are helpless listen and be glad. Honour the Lord with me! Celebrate His great name. I ask the Lord for help, and for him to save me from all my fears. Discover for yourself that the Lord is kind. Come to Him for protection, and you will be glad. Honour the Lord! You are His special people. No one who honours the Lord will ever be in need." (cf. Ps 34).

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My commandment is this: Love one another just as I love you. The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them. And you are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because servants do not know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because I have told you everything I heard from my Father. You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. This, then, is what I command you: Love one another." (Jn 15:11-17).

"Happy the soul to whom it is given to attain this life with Christ, to cleave with all one’s heart to him whose beauty all the heavenly hosts behold forever, whose love inflames our love, the contemplation of whom is our refreshment, whose graciousness is our delight, whose gentleness fills us to overflowing, whose remembrance makes us glow with happiness, whose fragrance revives the dead, the glorious vision of whom will be the happiness of all the citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem. For he is the brightness of eternal glory, the splendour of eternal light, the mirror without spot. Look into that mirror daily... and ever study therein your countenance, that within and without you may adorn yourself with all manner of virtues, and clothe yourself with the flowers and garments that become the daughter and chaste spouse of the most high King. In that mirror are reflected poverty, holy humility and ineffable charity, as, with the grace of God, you may perceive. Gaze first upon the poverty — the King of angels, Lord of heaven and earth, is laid in a manger. Consider next the humility — the untold labours and burdens which he endured for the redemption of the human race. Then look upon the unutterable charity with which he willed to suffer on the tree of the cross and to die thereon the most shameful kind of death. This mirror, Christ himself, fixed upon the wood of the cross, bade the passers-by consider these things: ‘All you who pass this way look and see...' Contemplate further the indescribable joys, the wealth and unending honours of the King... In such contemplation be mindful." (from Saint Clare's writings to Blessed Agnes of Prague).

Artwork: a painting of St Agnes of Assisi contemplating the crucified Christ, (n.d.).