In a world addicted to noise, speed, and power, the Franciscan Clarean contemplative activist stands still long enough to hear the heartbeat of God pulsing through creation. We refuse the false choice between prayer and protest — we do both. Our silence is not escape; it’s strategy. Our contemplation fuels our compassion, and our compassion drives us into the streets.
Contemplation as Resistance
Saint Francis and Saint Clare didn’t withdraw from the world — they withdrew from empire. Their solitude was rebellion. Their poverty was protest. Their prayers were a declaration that Caesar is not Lord, and love cannot be monetized. As Franciscan Clareans, we carry that same fire. When we kneel in quiet prayer, we are disarming the principalities. When we meditate on peace, we are sabotaging systems of greed and domination.
Activism as Prayer
Every act of mercy — feeding the hungry, tending the wounded, advocating for the marginalized — is itself a form of liturgy. We see Christ in the unhoused, the trans youth, the refugee, the addict. Our protests become processions. Our signs become psalms. Our work for justice is incense rising before the Divine.
As Franciscan Clareans, we embody “prayer with dirty hands.” We garden, march, write, heal, and organize — but never apart from that contemplative center that reminds us why we act.
The Rhythm of the Movement
The Franciscan Clarean rhythm is simple but radical:
Silence before speaking truth.
Listening before leading.
Grounding before giving.
Community before consumption.
This rhythm shapes a new kind of religious life — one that refuses to choose between the monastery and the movement. We are both monks and mischief-makers, mystics and medics, healers and holy troublemakers.
Living the Vision
To live as a contemplative activist is to hold paradox in our hands. We are gentle yet bold, peaceful yet persistent, humble yet revolutionary. We stand where Francis stood — with the poor, the forgotten, and the earth itself — crying out: “Peace and all good, but justice too!”
So we pray with our feet, our hands, our breath, and our hearts. We love fiercely. We act boldly. We contemplate deeply.
And in all of it, we remember:
“Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use megaphones and marching shoes.”
🌿 The Franciscan Clarean Liturgical Year of Creation
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims the work of His hands.” — Psalm 19:1 “The world is charged with the grandeur of God.” — Gerard Manley Hopkins
Imbolc / Candlemas (February 1–2) — Feast of Light and Renewal
Theme: Purification • Simplicity • New Beginnings Scripture: Luke 2:22–32 — Simeon holds the Light of the world. Canticle Verse: “Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars.” Practice of Mercy:
Bless candles, herbs, and water.
Begin a 40-Day Simplicity Challenge (declutter, forgive, simplify diet).
Visit or write to someone isolated in darkness — a widow, elder, or prisoner. Reflection: Imbolc announces the first light of hope after the long night. As Francis stripped away possessions, we strip away despair. Let every candle lit be an act of resistance against cynicism.
Ostara / Spring Equinox (March 20–22) — Feast of Balance and Blossoming
Theme: Balance • Renewal • Resurrection Scripture: Mark 4:26-32 — “The Kingdom is like a seed.” Canticle Verse: “Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind.” Practice of Mercy:
Bless the soil and plant seeds in the Sacred Table Healing Garden.
Write down what needs balance in your life and offer it in prayer.
Share garden produce or herbs with a local shelter. Reflection: Ostara’s balance calls us back to equilibrium — between prayer and work, spirit and soil. Christ’s resurrection energy hums through every new sprout.
Beltane (May 1) — Feast of Holy Fire and Joy
Theme: Love • Creativity • Community Scripture: Acts 2:1-4 — The tongues of fire at Pentecost. Canticle Verse: “Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire.” Practice of Mercy:
Celebrate a Feast of Holy Mischief — art, dance, storytelling, friendship.
Affirm the sacredness of bodies: bless your hands, feet, and heart.
Host a fundraiser or meal for those facing poverty or discrimination. Reflection: Beltane reminds us that divine love is not timid — it’s creative, embodied, and contagious. The Spirit still sets hearts ablaze.
Litha / Summer Solstice (June 21) — Feast of Radiance and Stewardship
Theme: Gratitude • Abundance • Creation Care Scripture: Matthew 6:26-29 — “Consider the lilies.” Canticle Verse: “Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Sun.” Practice of Mercy:
Host an outdoor Eucharist or blessing of fruit and herbs.
Volunteer with a local food or environmental program.
Write your civic leaders about ecological justice or renewable energy. Reflection: The sun’s height mirrors God’s generosity. To waste abundance is sin; to share it is praise.
Lughnasadh / Lammas (August 1) — Feast of Harvest and Gratitude
Theme: Work • Service • Solidarity Scripture: John 6:11-12 — “Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed.” Canticle Verse: “Praised be You, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of You.” Practice of Mercy:
Bake bread for your community and share it freely.
Honor the dignity of laborers — pray for farmworkers and artisans.
Support fair-trade goods or local markets. Reflection: The bread we break is sacred. Gratitude becomes justice when it feeds others.
Mabon / Autumn Equinox (September 20–23) — Feast of Letting Go and Gratitude
Theme: Detachment • Trust • Gratitude Scripture: Philippians 4:11-13 — “I have learned to be content.” Canticle Verse: “Praised be You, my Lord, through those who endure in peace.” Practice of Mercy:
Build a Gratitude Altar — include symbols of what you’re releasing.
Donate clothes or items you no longer need.
Pray for peace in areas of conflict and division. Reflection: Mabon teaches the holy art of release. We cannot carry everything — not even our good works. Let autumn’s falling leaves remind you: surrender is sacred.
Samhain / All Hallows (October 31–November 2) — Feast of Communion with the Saints
Theme: Remembrance • Mortality • Communion Scripture: Revelation 7:9-17 — “A multitude from every nation.” Canticle Verse: “Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Death.” Practice of Mercy:
Hold a Saints and Rebels Vigil — honor saints, ancestors, and forgotten heroes.
Write prayers for the dead and those grieving.
Support hospice or prison ministries. Reflection: Death is not the enemy of faith but its fulfillment. In honoring the departed, we learn how to live.
Yule / Winter Solstice (December 21–22) — Feast of Incarnation and Hope
Theme: Rebirth • Hope • Compassion Scripture: John 1:1-5, 14 — “The light shines in the darkness.” Canticle Verse: “Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth.” Practice of Mercy:
Share warmth: clothing drives, hot meals, shelter work.
Keep a Night Vigil with candles, singing, and prayer.
Bless your home and the creatures within it. Reflection: The darkest night conceives divine light. Incarnation means God is not distant — God is breathing in the cold beside us.
Epilogue: The Spiral Path
“We are to live in harmony with all creation, seeing each moment as an opportunity for love.” — St. Clare
The Franciscan Clarean Wheel is not superstition; it’s sanctified rhythm. The Celtic and Franciscan paths meet in their shared song: the holiness of ordinary time.
Each turning season calls the Order to conversion — not just prayer, but participation in the world’s healing. The Wheel turns outward: from chapel to street, from candle to compost, from contemplation to community.
🕊️ Suggested Annual Pattern for the Order
Season Key Symbol Spiritual Focus Prophetic Action
Imbolc Candle Simplicity & Renewal Fast from excess, bless light Ostara Seed Resurrection & Balance Plant, feed, restore Beltane Fire Love & Joy Celebrate creation, resist shame Litha Sun Stewardship Care for creation, share abundance Lughnasadh Bread Gratitude Share harvest with poor Mabon Leaf Letting Go Simplify, forgive, detach Samhain Candle Flame Communion Honor the dead, comfort mourners Yule Star Incarnation Give warmth, hold vigil
Closing Blessing
“May you be blessed by Brother Sun, cooled by Sister Water, sustained by Mother Earth, and guarded by the Spirit of Peace. May you turn with the seasons, and may your life be a liturgy of love.”
Sister Abigail Hester 