Today we dangle the FINAL spot in the Saintly Sixteen in front of two worthy saints, Clare of Assisi and Isidore or Seville. But that's not all that's at stake here. You see, Clare is the patron saint of television while Isidore is the patron saint of the internet. So, when the votes are counted, we'll be able to declare, once and for all, whether TV or the internet is the greatest time waster of them all. (No word yet on whether a patron saint of Netflix has been declared).
Yesterday Elizabeth the New Martyr defeated Gregory of Nazianzus 58% to 42% to advance to the next round where she'll face Hildegard of Bingen. Yes, folks, that means that three, count 'em, three Elizabeths will advance to the Saintly Sixteen.
So read, vote, and then get back to mindlessly either watching TV or scrolling through Facebook.
Clare of Assisi
Saint Clare of Assisi often is overshadowed by her contemporary, Saint Francis of Assisi arguably the best known of all the saints in the Roman Catholic Church. Clare even referred to herself as “the little plant” of Francis.
But Clare is more than just the first female follower of Francis, more than just his most dedicated disciple. She developed her own interpretation of the Franciscan life, founded the Order of Poor Ladies (known today as Poor Clares), and became the first woman to write a Rule of Life for a monastic order. Not one to back down from her ideals, she reportedly commanded miracles both before and after her death and, perhaps most miraculously, commanded the attention of the poor and powerful, men and women alike.
Chiara, or Clare, Offreduccio was born in 1194 to a noble family of Assisi, a small town in Italy’s scenic Umbrian valley. Official biographies written at the time of her death and canonization describe her as beautiful but they also hint at her strength and holy rebelliousness. At eighteen, she ran away from home to commit herself to Francis’s way of religious life, allowing the friar to cut off her golden curls and consecrate her to the Lord.
Clare became abbess of the monastery at San Damiano. Clare’s relationship with Francis was one of respect and friendship. She influenced, deepened, and supported Francis’s beliefs, including inspiring him to write his famous “Canticle of the Creatures.” She lived for twenty-seven years after Francis died in 1226, continuing to interpret and exemplify to others Francis’s teachings as well as promoting and supporting the growth of her order.
Clare went toe-to-toe with popes to preserve the way of life she wanted for her sisters, which included both the pursuit of radical poverty and their inclusion in the Franciscan order. That wish was granted when, two days before she died, she received a copy of the Rule of Life she had written bearing the papal seal. Within two years, Clare was declared a saint. And seven centuries later, the seeds scattered by “the little plant” of Francis continue to grow, with more than 20,000 Poor Clares in seventy-six countries. Clare is remembered on the feast day of August 11.
Collect for Clare
O God, whose blessed Son became poor that we, through his poverty, might become rich: Deliver us from an inordinate love of this world, that we, inspired by the devotion of your servant Clare, might serve you with singleness of heart and attain to the riches of the age to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Isidore of Seville
Imagine living in a world where institutions of learning were crumbling and the opinions of experts were ignored as people turned instead to the voices of the powerful. Such was the time of Isidore of Seville (560-636 ce). Born in Spain, Isidore grew up on the edge of the Roman Empire, on the Iberian Peninsula. He was educated at the Cathedral School of Seville, the only institution of its sort in the area.
Isidore worked alongside his brother Leander in teaching about and converting the Visigoths, who had adopted an Arian form of Christianity, to the Roman form of Christianity. Isidore succeeded him as the bishop of Seville. He immediately set to two tasks: preserving the monasteries, which functioned as repositories of wisdom and strengthening education throughout the region.
As bishop, Isidore was able to hold together the two peoples of the Iberian Peninsula: the Visigoths and the Romans. And his work in providing educational opportunities undoubtedly had a huge impact. Yet neither of these are why Isidore is remembered.
Late in his life, Isidore undertook the work of writing a book—but not just any book. Etymologiae (Etymologies) was intended to be a compendium of all human knowledge. In Etymologies Isidore summarized some of the most essential knowledge and wisdoms of those who came before him. This was the first work of this sort, an encyclopedia to gather together what had come before. By certain measures, Etymologies was a resounding success. The work of countless classical authors is known to us only from Isidore’s summaries. (Imagine if someone had written a Cliff Notes version of all the works lost in the Alexandrian Library!). His encyclopedia was used as a textbook in Europe for around nine hundred years!
For this herculean work of preserving and passing on knowledge, Isidore was only the twelfth person to be declared a Doctor of the Church. In 1997, Pope John Paul II suggested that Isidore and his quest to collect knowledge would be a natural fit as the patron saint of the internet. As the “last scholar of the ancient world” and the “schoolmaster of the middle ages,” Isidore provides a bridge carrying wisdom forward from the ancient world into ours.
Collect for Isidore
O God, by your Holy Spirit you give to some the word of wisdom, to others the word of knowledge, and to others the word of faith: We praise your Name for the gifts of grace manifested in your servant Isidore, and we pray that your Church may never be destitute of such gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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178 comments on “Clare of Assisi vs. Isidore of Seville”
'Imagine living in a world where institutions of learning were crumbling and the opinions of experts were ignored as people turned instead to the voices of the powerful.' This opening determined that my vote goes to Isodore, along with the line from the collect, 'We praise your Name for the gifts of grace manifested in your servant Isidore, and we pray that your Church may never be destitute of such gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord '. As we wrestle with the impact of the call by the Archbishops to suspend public worship in the Church of England, we are looking to offer ministry on line. St Isodore, pray for us! In a political atmosphere where knowledge has been debased, we need knowledge and wisdom in the church and in society more than ever. I am so grateful to the scientists and researchers who are calming and quietly bringing their knowledge to bear. I am also grateful for the life and witness of Clare, who I admire greatly, and expect another opportunity to vote for her in rounds to come.
Oops, posted in haste, a sin of so much internet use - Isidore, pray for me!
Imagine living in a world where institutions of learning were crumbling and the opinions of experts were ignored as people turned instead to the voices of the powerful. We are! St. Isadore help us and God save us from the current incarnation of No Nothings.
One piece of knowledge that would bless us all is learning about and revering the Doctors of the Church. Their lives and contributions to the ongoing life of Christianity are impossible to measure.
Sorry all you people’s out there voting for the ‘librarian’ and not the real Saint!
I too worked in a library thru my highschool days, but if not for the library I would not have my love of books, all kinds of books! Mostly non fiction, but , like the current Facebook and social media, not always true, just someone else’s ideas and or thoughts, not necessarily true or factual! I did know of this man and the taking of children and giving to Christian families to teach and raise, but what did they actually learn of their own history? So, please do you own checking on the real history and acts with on the web or in an actual library, and then vote, if you have the time!
I'm always an advocate of the library, but I imagine they are all closed now . . .
I found this so difficult, I had to draw names.
Yes, imagine living in a world where opinions of experts are ignored as people turn instead to the voices of the rich and powerful! Oh, wait...
Although poor Clares are more well known, And Isadore's textbook out of date, As a school teacher, I relate to Isadore. He was a collector and source of wide spread information. I vote for Isadore, proposed future saint of the internet.
As a life-long educator and student, I had to vote for Isadore.
”Imagine living in a world where institutions of learning were crumbling and the opinions of experts were ignored as people turned instead to the voices of the powerful.” Why yes. I can imagine that. Seems timely. And I’m a teacher, so Isadore it is.
A tough choice for a feminist but the opening line of St. Isidore's description swayed me, "Imagine living in a world where institutions of learning were crumbling and the opinions of experts were ignored as people turned instead to the voices of the powerful." We live in such a time and need St. Isidore now.
Loved the poem for St. Isadore, having been there on too many occasions. But my own church is St. Clare's of Assisi, and loyalty wins out.
Oops. Isidore.
My heart goes out to the people of both Italy and Spain right now given what they are facing.
Both TV and Internet are providing important connection.
Love Clare but going with Isidore today because of the opportunity for practical interactive helping utility provided by the internet keeping people informed and connected in dire circumstance.
May Isidore call down cleansing e-fire on all lies, hatred, and misinformation being spread via 'his' medium.
This is a tough call. I’m going with the Little Plant.
Again, a hard choice.
I went with Clare, a woman of her time and could be one for our time as well.
May God preserve her memory.
Anyone who goes toe-to-toe with a pope has my vote.
Come on, folks!! Let's hear it for Isadore, compiler of the first Wikipedia!
I knew I'd be voting for the less popular candidate today, but I couldn't help it. I am a scholar and musician, and Isidore compiled one of the earliest encyclopedias (Etymologies) and included a section on music in one of its volumes.
Clare, a strong woman who stood up to Popes. How could I not voter for her?
Amazing, extremely, enjoyable expositions!
Educator: Isidore.
No contest I thought, breating a sigh of relief because so many day's choices have been excrutiating! Then I read St. Isador's bio which stopped me in my tracks! Learning is so very important, expecially today with so much "fake" news and info floating about. Isador was about education, preserving the knowledge of the past that it might enlighten our thinking and therefore our futures. He got my vote, but not without a backward glance over my shoulder to Clare.
Whoa, that was hard! St Clare is a notable figure in her own right, but the further association with St Francis and Assisi made my vote for her a certainty. Until I read about St Isisdore's contribution to knowledge. His efforts to preserve the light of learning earned my vote. Then I read about his anti-Semitism. I might have voted differently had I read others' posts first – should I be doing this? – but, of course, it doesn't matter. I have learned something about the history of the church and two of its notable figures, read a couple of prayers, and appreciated my membership in this online community during a Lenten season of enforced social distancing. Thank you, Lent Madness.
My BA (Honours) Degree from Bristol University, England, was in Classics so I have to vote for the classical scholar, Isidore. And your first sentence about him struck me as being of real relevance today.
We need more real learning to help us through these difficult times.
For me it would have had to be Clare regardless. When in my beloved city of Cortona, Italy, I drive over to Assisi to attend the Anglican congregation of St. Leonard, which meets in a frescoed gem of a little church lent to us by a local Roman Catholic confraternity. As I walk up to the city from the parking garage below I pass below St. Clare’s Basilica and all too often learn from the chiming of its bells that once again I am late for church.
In fact, as her bio and our discussion show, Clare has plenty to recommend her. Francis, who was increasingly frail until his death at the age of 44, would have benefited enormously from her spiritual and emotional support. The palpable contemporary witness of the order she founded 800 years ago puts her over the top as far as I’m concerned. And then there’s the television thing.
Francis died at 44?? How did I not know this? Tragic!
Your first paragraph took me to Italy in a flash. I loved the trip--thank you.
Went with Clare, simply could not vote against a friend and disciple of St. Francis.
Tim & Scott!
I’ve been wondering - are all of these collects pre-existing, or are some of them written just for LM?
The lady Clare gets my vote today, although it seems we are living in Isidore time
I've always admired Clare of Assisi and continue to do so, but I voted for Isidore because of his essential work of preserving and passing on learning.
The blogger who writes about Clare calls her friend Francis "arguably the best known of all the saints in the Roman Catholic Church." I think that is an inaccurate way of putting things. Francis lived centuries for the schisms of the 16th century Reformation. He is widely known and revered throughout the entire Church Catholic, not just the Roman part of it. That is certainly the case in Anglicanism, where there is even an Order of St. Francis and also many churches named after him.
Isador for me.
When my parents bought a set of encyclopedias, my brother and I perused them daily. We learned how to play poker and how to make dandelion wine.....among other things of course!
I had to vote for Isidore. While "converting" Arians to Roman Christianity offends me (as I wrote about yesterday, anyone who has ever looked at the Arian mosaics in Ravenna can feel the depths of Arian Christianity), I love that he had such a passion for knowledge that he wrote the first encyclopedia. My husband is a travel writer and I spent time with him last fall in Assisi, including touring and spending many hours praying at San Damiano. One of the most beautiful parts of San Damiano are the rough-hewn choir stalls that illustrate (close to 1,000 years later) Claire's commitment to poverty. She must have been an extraordinary woman to have done all that she did -- and yet the fact that she lived cloistered once she ran away from home to join Francis has always, always troubled me. Her order still lives cloistered today in Assisi. I came for evening prayer and to spend time with the actual cross of San Damiano (that was part of Francis's conversion), and we were all in one room and they were in another. Withdrawing to contemplate is one thing; but being cloistered speaks to me of prison.