Clear, Clearer, Clearer Still: The Figure of Clare in Recent Scholarship

Reflecting on the resurgence of interest in texts by and about Clare of Assisi and the availability of new scholarly translations, the author reflects on how they have been interpreted. He turns to the articles of Sandra Scheiders, Bernard McGinn, et al., in the Christian Spirituality Bulletin and Spiritus which repeatedly wrestled with the definition of spirituality and questions of “the ancient reality” and “the ancient texts.” From their considerations of the “hermeneutical,” “historical-contextual,” and “theological” perspectives, the author suggests looking at the texts by and about Clare of Assisi through a prism and concludes by reflecting on the Trinitarian form of life given her by Francis of Assisi suggesting his utter respective for a feminine interpretation of the fundamental Christian mystery.