St. Clare wrote in her Rule that we are to “live the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ”. She put special emphasis on poverty, going so far as to call it a privilege, the privilege of radical dependence on God.

This radical dependence on God brings out two particular traits of a Poor Clare, Gratitude and Joy; Gratitude that everything is a gift, and Joy in God who cares for us so bountifully.

Holy poverty is essential to our lives as Poor Clares; poverty of spirit and poverty of worldly possessions. "The form of life of the Order of Poor Sisters that the Blessed Francis founded is this: to observe the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by living in obedience, without anything of one's own and in chastity." (Clare's rule 1:1)

The Privilege of Poverty frees us to depend totally on the Lord, for "He who feeds the birds of heaven (cf Matt. 6:26) and clothes the lilies of the field (cf. Matt. 6:28) will not fail you in either food or clothing until He ministers to you in Heaven.