The Letters of St. Clare to St. Agnes

   Agnes of Prague was one of the celebrated people of her day, a princess, the daughter of the King of Bohemia. This woman had ‘rock star’ status, with several suitors eager to win her hand in a political alliance.  Yet Agnes sought to give up all the sparkly splendor, wealth, and perks of her birthright to embrace a Divine Bridegroom rather than a royal husband.

      Word had reached Agnes in Bohemia about the Friars Minor and a beautiful noble woman in Assisi named Clare di Favorone, who embraced poverty and the Franciscan movement. Clare, whose very name means ‘light,’ embraced the example of St. Francis and lived it in her own profound and contemplative way.  Being inspired to follow Jesus in the manner of Francis and Clare, Agnes chose poverty over riches and a religious life over a royal one.   
Image by Fr. Franklin Fong, OFM
     In the days before cell phones, email, online education, or Zoom, Clare and Agnes communicated via hand written letters personally carried back and forth between Bohemia and Assisi by Franciscan Friars as they made their dangerous travels on foot across Europe. Clare shared her insights about the spiritual life with Agnes in these letters. Clare chose to use a mirror as a metaphor for the spiritual life; the image of a mirror worked effectively as a spiritual metaphor that would have been understood well by women of nobility.
     However, a 13th century mirror was not like a modern one, but would have been made of polished metal with a curved surface something like a bottom of a pan – reflecting a different view of the image depending on one’s perspective.  It would reflect with much greater clarity and precision at the very center of the mirror than the curved outer edges. Using this metaphor, Clare invites Agnes into contemplation:  on the sloped outside edge of the mirror Clare asks Agnes to reflect on the infancy and poverty of Jesus. On the more reflective surface Clare asks Agnes to consider holy humility. In the center of the mirror, the area of greatest clarity, Clare asks Agnes to contemplate the perfect charity and immense love that Jesus show for us on the Cross.
     The letters span a time period of 19 years. The first letter first letter is very formal, after all Clare, as Abbess and leader of her own religious community, is addressing a Princess, the eldest daughter of a King. Clare shares her fascination in Jesus in this letter. The Second letter dwells on Poverty and Contemplation, Clare asks Agnes to gaze upon Christ, consider the mystery of Christ, contemplate Christ. Clare encourages us to look prayerfully, to think deeply, and through contemplation, to become Christ-like: to see our reflection in Christ, and Christ’s reflection in us. In the third letter, Clare bolsters Agnes up in meeting the challenges in living a Franciscan life. The fourth and final letter is written near Clare’s death; the letter is full of peace and joy and is considered by many as ‘one of the most beautiful pieces of spiritual literature.’ 
Icon written by Sr. Roberta Cusack, OSF,  depicting St. Clare, St. Agnes and their relationship as 'Anam Cara' or 'Soul Friends.'
Place your mind before the mirror of eternity!
Place your soul in the brilliance of glory!
Place your heart in the figure of the divine substance!
And transform your whole being
into the image of the Godhead Itself through contemplation!
So that you too may feel what His friends feel as they taste the hidden sweetness
Which God Himself has reserved from the beginning
for those who love Him
From Clare’s Third Letter to Agnes
References
Class Notes - from the 'Franciscan Spirituality' course, Franciscan School of Theology, taught by Br. Bill Short, OFM.
Francis and Clare - the Complete Works by Regis Armstrong (Translator)
Clare of Assisi – The Lady: Early Documents by Regis J. Armstrong (Translator)
Gikow, Francine. “The Way of Franciscan Contemplation.” Tau-USA National Newsletter of the Secular Franciscan Order, 2007.
Hahn, Michael. “Clare of Assisi’s Spiritual Teaching and Its Significance in Medieval Monasticism and in Modernity.” University of St. Andrews. ​
Laura Chun, OFS, is a former Minister for the San Luis Rey Secular Franciscan Fraternity and engaged in Mission San Luis Rey Parish ministries. Laura is a chaplain with the Diocese of San Diego, providing pastoral care to the incarcerated.
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