The month of August is replete with commemorations of important saints in the Catholic Liturgical Calendar.
Today’s photo is of just one of the many saints of August, Saint Clare of Assisi. This sacred image of the 12th century disciple of Saint Francis and founder of the Poor Clare Order, was painted by Italian artist Lorenzo Lotto 1526.
The nearest Native American Pueblo to our monastery, some fifty miles away, is dedicated to “Santa Clara,” hence the choice of today’s art work.
Other notable saints of this month include the following: Saint Alphonsus Liguori, August 1st; Saint John Mary Vianney, August 4th; Saint Dominic Guzman, August 8th; Saint Lawrence Martyr, August 10th; Saint Clare of Assisi, August 11th; Saint Maximilian Kolbe, August 14th; Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, August 20th; Pope Saint Pius X, August 21st; Saint Bartholomew Apostle, August 24th; Saint Monica, August 27th; Saint Augustine of Hippo, August 28th; Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist, August 29th.
That’s enough to keep the head any liturgist, sacristan, or choir director spinning, with particular texts, music, vestments and chalices proper to each of the saints being celebrated.
Today, happy feast of Saint Dominic Guzman, founder of the Order of Preachers, now called the Dominicans!
Northern New Mexico was blessed for many decades of the 20th and 21st centuries with myriads of Dominican religious sisters of various branches educating the young.
May those Dominican educators who have died rest in peace and rise in glory. May those still alive receive many blessings from the Lord for their tireless work in the Land of Enchantment.
Abbot Christian and the monks
