THE POOR CLARES OF
SALABERRY-DE-VALLEYFIELD
"By the strong arms of poverty, you
have taken hold of that incomparable
treasure hidden in the field of the world and of the human heart."
St. Clare.
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CLARE OF
ASSISI
OF LIGHT THROUGH HER LIFE
OF PRAYER AND POVERTY.
In the Monastry of St-Damian, located in the plains of Assisi,
Clare lived prayer as one breathes to live. Her desire to follow Jesus Christ, poor and
crucified, was always a source of interior freedom and profound joy.
Like
Francis, Clare’s life was one of detachment and joy, giving love and being loved.
Towards the end of her life, in a burst and thanksgiving she will cry out: "May
you be blessed. O Lord, You Who have created my soul !"
The way of
life of the Poor Clares is to observe the Gospel of Jesus Christ living in obedience,
without property, in chastity and retreat from the world. This ideal of Francis and Clare
has been passed down through the centuries fashioning saintly persons.
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THE POOR
CLARES
THROUHOUT THE WORLD:
Today, the Poor Clares, who have the Lord Jesus ans His
Gospel for their sole treasure, have more than 18,000 members in five continents. Clare
remains a living testimony and her message of faithful prayer, joyous poverty and
passionate love is always relevant. Likewise, the missionary thrust of the Order is
of great vitality. New Monastries are opened in Africa, Japan, India, Mexico, the
Philippines or South America. Clare’s charism touches diverse cultures.
THE POOR CLARES IN
SALABERRY-DE-VALLEYFIELD:
| The arrival of the Poor Clares
in Bellerive in 1902 (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield) enriches the Canadian Church through the
implantation of the first monastery of Sisters of Saint Clare. Here, as elsewhere, the
mission of the Poor Clares remains the same. |
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TO BE UNCEASING PRAYER
IN THE HEART OF THE WORLD:
"Watch
and pray without ceasing" St. Clare
The
community prayer, the chanting of the Liturgy of the Hours, rhythms our daily and
community life. This culminates with the Eucharistic celebration, where Christ Jesus,
source of our communion and unity, offers Himself totally to the Father and bonds our
union in Him. Personal prayer expresses itself through spaces of prayer: Illumined
through the Holy Gospel, a marvelous gazing at God, who tranforms the hearth in the image
of the Beloved each day.
G E N U I N E S I S T E R
S :
"Love one another with the
charity of Christ, may the love you have
in your hearts be shown outwardly in your actions." St. Clare
 The daily community life is characterized
by a climatemade of joyfull simplicity while sharing tasks and responsibilities.
Coming from various cultural backgrounds, the times of exchange and recreation allows us
to construct the community with respect for our differences.
THE POOR ARE AMAZED:
"The sisters to whom the Lord has given the grace of
working…" St. Clare.
 Work, a true gift of
God, is not only a balance factor but also a mean of personal development and a way to
express our creativity. Motivated by true love, it allows us to participate and contribute
to the community’s well being and to take part in the labour of our brothers and
sisters. Our tasks vary according to the needs and abilities of each sister and always,
work must be in service to our prayer, the first priority.
UNHINDERED PILGRIMS:
"As pilgrims and strangers in this world,
let them confidently send for alms." St. Clare.
 If our resources
are insufficient, humbly but confidently, the Poor . Clares resort to charity, abandoning
themselves in the hands of the Holy Providence, knowing that it is He who feeds the birds
in the sky and clothes the lilies of the fields.
W E L C O M E / R E C E P T I
O N :
"I
consider you a co-worker of God Himself and a support
of the weak members of His inessable Body". St. Clare.
 The
monastery, a place dedicated to silence and prayer, is opened to everyone. . Every day,
discreetly and attentively, our monastery welcomes many people with diverse social
backgrounds, age groups and life condition.
Persons
truly seeking the Lord do not hesitate to share in our prayer or live a few days of
solitude in our hospitality. Others prefer to phone or write us in order to present in
their prayer requests.
On this journey of the Gospel begun
by Francis
and Clare eight centuries ago, many more 
pilgrims still come to walk their pilgrim
age today
IF GOD CALLS YOU ?
"If,
by divine inspiration, someone comes to us desering to accept this life,
let the tenor of our life be thoroughly explained to her." St.
Clare
If you deeply feel that the Lord is calling you to a life of prayer, if
you have a great need of Him and to give your life to Him,to lovingly support your
brothers and sisters, a great adventure awaits you.
Brother Antonio Febbraro ofm.
The training offered has various steps: Postulate, noviciate,
temporary profession followed by a definite engagement. On the road along with the Lord
Jesus, our quest for the Lord never ceases.
Throughout the days and years, above and beyond our sorrows, in the faith
and contemplation of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified, each of us feels overwhelmed by the
great joy of having been chosen and being loved. It is also a tremendous joy for all of us
to respond to this love which envelopes one and all with tenderness, joy in living
together with the other sisters that the Lord has chosen to live the same ideal within the
Body of the Churh.
"May
the Lord always be with you.
And may you also be with Him"
St. Clare.
POOR CLARE MONASTERY
55 rue sainte Claire
Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec
CANADA
J6S 1N5
TELEPHONE: 450-373-1225
FAX: 450-373-1228
E-MAIL:
monastere@clarissesval.ca
Musique : J. Berthier
© Ateliers et Presses de Taizé
71250 Taizé - Communauté
http://www.taize.fr
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