Our Charism & Spirituality

The Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration are contemplative cloistered nuns dedicated to the Franciscan form of radical Gospel living and to the Eucharistic adoration in a spirit of reparative thanksgiving.

Reverend Mother
Mary of Saint Claire Bouillevaux
Founder
1820 - 1871

It began in France in 1854 by Mother Marie de St. Claire Bouillevaux in response to her call to contemplation and adoration of the Eucharist in a spirit of praise, thanksgiving and reparation for the ingratitude shown towards God for all His graces and blessings He bestows on mankind. She was so moved by the Gospel story of the ungrateful lepers, which concludes with the Lord’s words, “Were not ten made clean, where are the other nine?”. She chose to make reparative thanksgiving our special aim, a way to express gratitude to God, especially for the gift of the Most Blessed Sacrament on behalf of those who do not thank him. The Order was founded in Paris, France on December 8, 1854, the same day that the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed a Dogma by Blessed Pope Pius IX. Thus, we have a special love and devotion to our Immaculate Mother conceived without sin. Faithful to this call, we continually offer praise and thanksgiving to God with and through Jesus in the name of all people throughout the world before the Eucharist.

“Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?”

— Luke 17:17

The Franciscan Family

The Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration is one of the branches of the Order of St. Clare. Its origins date back to the thirteenth century to the Franciscan movement initiated by St. Francis and St. Clare in Assisi, Italy. This movement which in the beginning was simply to live faithfully the Gospel of Jesus Christ in brotherhood and sisterhood, eventually became the three Franciscan Orders that we know today: the Friars Minor, the Poor Sisters—now known throughout the world as the Poor Clares—and the Secular Franciscans.

Our Holy Mather St. Clare was a noble woman of the Italian town of Assisi at the end of the 12th and the beginning of the 13th centuries. Known from her youth as a devout girl, Clare was touched to the heart by the preaching of her contemporary, St. Francis of Assisi. On the night of Palm Sunday in 1212, Clare left her family home and began to follow Francis by giving herself to living a poor, simple, Gospel life at the little church of San Damiano on the outskirts of Assisi. Although her family was initially furious with her decision, many young women followed Clare's example within a short time, including a number of members of her own family including her sisters and mother.

“Our Franciscan way is the source of much joy. Saints Francis and Clare teach us to walk joyfully in the footsteps of the poor and humble Jesus so that through Him we may be led in the Holy Spirit to the Father. We show reverence for all God’s creation and use the gifts of creation with responsibility and thankfulness. As Franciscans, we cherish a filial devotion to Mary and follow her in total surrender to God.”

— The Constitutions of Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoraiton

Our Way of Life

I. Contemplative Life Centered on Eucharist

We are called to dwell intimately with our Eucharistic Lord. We draw Divine inspiration, strength, and grace from contemplation of the poor, humble, and loving Jesus present in the Holy Eucharist.
It is also a call to a life of contemplation, a precious gift of the Holy Spirit to us and to the Church. Mary is our model and inspiration in living out our contemplative call. Mary who lovingly pondered God’s Word in her heart, teaches us to wait upon the Lord in silence and trust.
II. Life of Penance and Prayer

By our life of prayer and penance we support and make fruitful the apostolic activity of the whole Church.
Interior and communal prayer lies at the heart of our life. Meditation on the Scripture, as well as other spiritual reading, provide the foundation for this prayer. We also seek intimacy with God by maintaining an atmosphere of prayerful silence. We work in a spirit of prayer using our unique gifts for the good of the Community and for the sake of His Body, the Church.
III. Life in Community

Our way of living together in community is based on the words of Jesus, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Saints Francis and Clare were so deeply imbued with this Gospel ideal that it became the foundation of their shared life in fraternity and Sisterhood.
The Sisterly affection in our hearts takes outward form in our everyday encounters as we share life together. It finds expression in our sensitivity to one another, our words and deeds of kindness in mutual respect and care, and in forgiveness of one another’s human shortcomings. Our efforts to live this call to Gospel love is our primary witness and mission in the Church.
IV. Life hidden with Christ in God

The Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration observes papal enclosure which provides the setting of limited space and contacts. The enclosed contemplative life is the fertile ground in which our life of prayer and adoration can flourish.