St. Paul's Newman Center - NDSU at 1141 North University Drive, Fargo, ND 58102 US - Catholic Women Living in Community

“Love God, Serve God. . .everything is in that.”  
-St. Clare 
 

The women in the household of St. Clare will live community and imitation of St. Clare.  We will strive to imitate her by developing a strong devotion to our Lord in the Eucharist, rooting our lives in prayer, and striving for holiness in the ordinary things of everyday life.

The Women of St. Clare will work to repair the four relationships severed by the fall:

1 – God and Man : Morning prayer, litany of humility, and daily offering.  Weekly household rosary, attendance of a weekly FOUCS Bible Study, daily mass and frequent confession. [ If you suffer with Him, you will reign with him. If you weep with Him, you shall rejoice with Him; if you die with Him on the cross of tribulation, you shall possess heavenly mansions in the splendor of the saints.]

2 – Man and Self: We will strive to become the best versions of ourselves.  We will accomplish this by living lives of order, getting atiquate sleep, eating healthy, daily exercise, and pursuing ones passions and dreams.  We will spend time developing our minds through studying and reading and pursuing excellence in all things. [May you go forward securely, joyfully, and swiftly. . . in the pursuit of that perfection to which the Spirit of the Lord has called you.] from a letter to her sister Agnes

3 – Man and Man : We will develop healthy relationships with one another, as well as assist in     fostering Christ centered community.  Planning and hosting monthly women’s nights, keeping an open-door policy, attending NDSU and Newman Center events, and inviting other students to dine with us. We will strive to live extreme hospitality and uncompromising charity.  [Always be lovers of your souls and those of all your sisters. And may you always be eager to observe what you have promised the Lord.]

4 – Man and Creation: We will strive to be good steward of the many gifts that God has given us.  We month, we will, as a household, participate in a service project, following the command of Christ to serve Him in others by performing one or more of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. We will live simply in imitation of the life of poverty lived by St. Clare. 

The Household of St. Clare should be a “home” for all who enter.  We will pray for the needs of the Newman Center and for the conversion of the campus of North Dakota State all the while helping to foster Christ centered community.

Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me. -- St. Clare of Assisi

"I come, O Lord, unto your sanctuary to see the life and food of my soul. As I hope in You, O Lord, inspire me with that confidence which brings me to Your holy mountain. Permit me, Divine Jesus, to come closer to You, that my whole soul may do homage to the greatness of Your majesty; that my heart, with its tenderest affections, may acknowledge Your infinite love; that my memory may dwell on the admirable mysteries here renewed every day, and that the sacrifice of my whole being may accompany Yours."

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me. 
From the desire of being esteemed, 
Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being loved... 
From the desire of being extolled ... 
From the desire of being honored ... 
From the desire of being praised ... 
From the desire of being preferred to others... 
From the desire of being consulted ... 
From the desire of being approved ... 
From the fear of being humiliated ... 
From the fear of being despised... 
From the fear of suffering rebukes ... 
From the fear of being calumniated ... 
From the fear of being forgotten ... 
From the fear of being ridiculed ... 
From the fear of being wronged ... 
From the fear of being suspected ...

That others may be loved more than I, 
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I ... 
That, in the opinion of the world, 
others may increase and I may decrease ... 
That others may be chosen and I set aside ... 
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ... 
That others may be preferred to me in everything... 
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should. . Amen