Help Provided to Train Capuchin Poor Clare Novices in Mexico
Thursday, May 16, 2013

Success Story

Assisi, in the year 1212. A young and beautiful noblewoman secretly slips out of the house of her wealthy parents. She leaves behind her all the safety, comfort, wealth and security in order to devote her life in poverty, chastity and obedience to her bridegroom, Jesus Christ. She is inflamed with the ideals of her spiritual mentor, guide and brother in the Lord, Saint Francis of Assisi. Chiara Offreduccio di Favarone, for that is her name, leaves her horrified family facing a fait accompli.

She has her hair cut short and in this way finally manages to convince her family that she has irrevocably chosen this life of radical imitation of Christ. Although it was not unusual for a young woman to enter a convent at this time, a young woman from a noble family would have been expected to enter a religious community and live a life in accordance with her station. To choose a life of utter poverty was something new and unheard-of. Very soon other young women joined her, and later, of course, she became famous throughout the world as Saint Clare of Assisi, the founder of the Poor Clares. The order she founded was unusual in that not only did the individual Sisters have to renounce all worldly goods, but even the community itself was to remain poor and have no possessions.

Throughout the world today there are Sisters who follow the ideals of Saint Clare. Above all they devote themselves to the perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. In Mexico, the Capuchin Poor Clares are the contemplative women's order with the most vocations. Young, joyful faces smile beneath their veils, while many of their convents are simply bursting at the seams, despite the fact that Mexico is a country with a strongly secular tradition in which politicians have sought again and again to undercut the influence of the Church and where today, despite the high number of Catholic faithful, Christian values are increasingly being squeezed out of society. In the face of such a situation, the prayers of the contemplative religious are more necessary than ever.

On a practical level, the formation of young Sisters costs money, and for the contemplative communities in particular it is very difficult to support themselves. But thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, ACN was last year once again able to help for the training of eight young novices with a grant of $5,000.

Sister Rosalina Aguilar Gonzalez has now written to us: “I would like to thank you most sincerely for the donation you have given us. May God reward such great kindness and generosity!” At the same time the Sisters assure us of their prayers: “We will not forget the needs of our benefactors, and we continue to pray for their intentions!”

This now completed project is an example of our work. If you would like to support a similar project, then please indicate the reference code below when making your donation. Thank you.

Code: 230-06-79