Attentive to the Voice of the Beloved: Saint Clare and the Song of Songs

Most scholars did not take Clare of Assisi seriously as a medieval woman mystic until the advent of her eighth centenary in 1993-1994. Few studies were available in English then, but today scholars are discovering rich sources for research within her corpus of writings and other documents related to her and the Poor Sisters who made up the community at San Damiano. Research also abounds about the circumstances, persons and documents that led to the founding of the Order of St. Clare (1263) and the historical trajectory that was set in motion with the publication of the Urbanist Rule. These are all worthy topics for research projects, but the focus of this paper lies elsewhere. This research explores Clare's life and writings by seeking insights into what this medieval woman might offer people in a Post-Christian environment about how to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. In the midst of this' questioning, two sources emerged as vital to the discourse: Clare's tenacious pursuit of the "Privilege of Poverty" (2PrPov)1 was no accident. She requested this document to safeguard her vision of what it meant to "embrace the poor Christ" (LAg2:18) and because she wanted to live the vision of Gospel life that she shared with Francis. The second thing that became clear was that her use of the scriptural book of the Song of Songs in her Letters to Agnes of Prague (1-4LAg) reveals the depth of her spiritual teaching about growth in intimacy with Christ. It soon became apparent that sine proprio (without property) is the Clarian way to mystical union. Only the truly poor person can love with single-hearted devotion, because she has nothing else to divide her attention and capture her heart. Material and spiritual poverty are the means by which one shaped by the Franciscan/Clarian charism is led into mystical union with the Beloved One. Poverty opens one to God and enables one to live in solidarity with the poor and suffering in the Body of Christ. It is in the coming together of these two sources that Clare's vision of the relationship between poverty and contemplative union may be seen as a sure guide for navigating the pathways of mystical prayer and an authentic Clarian/Franciscan life. What piques interest and gives academic energy is what may be perceived as the synergistic relationship between Clare's decision to live radical poverty and her intimate relationship with the Poor Christ. In her use of the Song of Songs to describe Christ, and union with him, to Agnes of Prague, and her quest for the Privilege of Poverty, one can decipher the anagogical teaching of Clare about poverty and contemplation. Before considering the relationship between the Privilege of Poverty and Clare's use of the Song of Songs, this study will trace the beginnings of Clare's early experience of Gospel living in her family and how people viewed her as she was growing up. Clare's Early Spiritual Development In Clare's medieval biography, it is told that, as a child, people saw her as "a vessel of grace" and perceived that "as mercy was growing with her, she bore a compassionate attitude, merciful towards the miseries of the destitute" (LegCl 3). In this same section of her legenda, the medieval author pointed out that she was generous towards the poor and that "she would deprive her own body of delicate foods" and send them secretly to people in need (LegCl 3). The twentieth witness in The Acts of the Process of Canonization (Proc), Ioanni de Ventura of Assisi, the watchman for the Offreduccio household, gave the following testimony about Clare's care for the poor. When asked about Clare's life at home he replied that "although their household was one of the largest in the city and great sums were spent there, she (Clare) nevertheless saved the food they were given to eat, set aside, and then sent to the poor" (Proc 20:3). Brief as these texts are, and as few in number as they are, they nevertheless make several important points that give an indication of Clare's sense of compassion for poor people. …