The Mystical Vision of St. Clare
"The Lady Clare said that once she had had a vision in which she seemed to be carrying a jug of hot water and a hand towel to St. Francis. And she was climbing a high stairway, but it was easy going, as if she were walking on level ground. And when she reached St. Francis, he bared the nipple of his breast and said to the Virgin Clare, 'Come, take, and drink.' And when she had done so, St. Francis instructed her to drink a second time. This she did, and what she drank was so sweet and delightful that she could not find words to describe it. And when she drew away. St. Francis's nipple remained between her lips. And she took it from her mouth with her hand, and it seemed to be gold so clear and bright that she saw her own reflection in it as in a mirror." --Process of Canonization of St. Clare, Testimony of Sister Philippa, article 29
I found this interpretation of Clare's vision:
"The Lady Clare said that once she had had a vision in which she seemed to be carrying a jug of hot water and a hand towel to St. Francis. And she was climbing a high stairway, but it was easy going, as if she were walking on level ground. And when she reached St. Francis, he bared the nipple of his breast and said to the Virgin Clare, 'Come, take, and drink.' And when she had done so, St. Francis instructed her to drink a second time. This she did, and what she drank was so sweet and delightful that she could not find words to describe it. And when she drew away. St. Francis's nipple remained between her lips. And she took it from her mouth with her hand, and it seemed to be gold so clear and bright that she saw her own reflection in it as in a mirror." --Process of Canonization of St. Clare, Testimony of Sister Philippa, article 29
I found this interpretation of Clare's vision:
Murray Bodo's treatment of Francis' life and teachings contains a quote from a letter from Clare to Agnes of Prague which may explain the symbolism behind Clare's seeing herself in Francis' breast as if in a mirror:
Because the vision of Christ is the splendor of eternal glory, the radiance of eternal light and the mirror without stain, look upon that mirror each day, O queen and spouse of Jesus Christ, and continually study your countenance within it, so that you may clothe yourself inside and out with beautiful robes and cover yourself with the flowers and garments of all the virtues, as becomes the daughter and most chaste bride of the Most High King. Indeed blessed poverty, holy humility, and ineffable charity are reflected in that mirror, ... . (46)
Clare saw Christ in Francis' breast and herself in Christ. Bodo described the Clare/Francis relationship in these words:
Her relationship with Francis was at first that of a spiritual daughter and though she continued all her life to call him 'our holy Father Francis,' she became more than a daughter. Clare emerges as his most faithful companion, the most complete embodiment of the dream and way of life that Francis received from the Lord. She became his partner, the feminine counterpart and complement to the gospel man who follows radically in the footsteps of Christ. (47)
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