Behold how he became despised for you, and follow him, become despised for him in this world. Most noble queen, when you desire to follow your Bridegroom, more beautiful than all sons of men, who for your salvation became the most wretched of men, despised, beaten, and many times scourged all over his body, dying in the agony of the cross: behold, reflect, and consider.
If you suffer with him, you will also reign with him; if you feel pain with him, you will also rejoice with him; if you die with him on the cross of suffering, you will possess a heavenly dwelling in the radiance of the saints, and your name will be written in the book of life.
(St. Clara /1194–1253/, second letter addressed to St. Agnes of Bohemia /1211–1282/)
