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Clare is a medieval saint and often overlooked, being in the shadow of Francis of Assisi who was her mentor. Nevertheless, she founded the world’s very first religious order for women: The Poor Clares.

St Lawrence was martyred in 258, one of seven deacons martyred during the persecution of Valerian.

St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was the professed name of Edith Stein, who was martyred, alongside her sister Rosa, at Auschwitz-Birkenau Extermination Camp in 1942. Edith Stein was a Jewish philosopher who converted to Christianity at the age of thirty-one and became a Carmelite nun twelve years later. As a young professional woman she was involved in the struggle for women’s rights. Pope St John Paul II declared her one of the patron saints of Europe in 1999.

When St Dominic was on a journey through the south of France, he encountered the Albigensians or Cathars. They proclaimed a distorted form of Christianity, saying among other things, that matter like the body is of evil origin. Together with some Cistercian monks Dominic started to patiently explain the faith, while themselves living a convincing life as followers of Jesus in holiness, humility and simplicity.

Pray the Collect for the solemnity of the Assumption

Come to Mary, refuge of sinners, asking for the conversion of heart of someone in need.