Sister Clare Crockett, whose beatification cause is set to open, would have turned 42 today, Nov. 14. 

Sister Clare Crockett was a young religious sister who died in 2016 at the age of 34 in an earthquake in Ecuador that left hundreds dead. On Nov. 4, the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother, her religious community, announced the beginning of her cause for beatification.

The Irish sister who was on her way to a TV career as a teenager and living a life of parties and alcohol, was drawn to the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother. Here are 5 interesting facts about the soon-to-be-saint. 

1. A popular documentary, released by her order, has received millions of views on YouTube (though the channel had some issues in the past related to spam misinformation).

2. Good Friday changed her life. In Spain in 2000, she took part in the Good Friday adoration of the cross, kissing the feet of Jesus.  

“I do not know how to explain exactly what happened. I did not see the choirs of angels or a white dove come down from the ceiling and descend on me, but I had the certainty that the Lord was on the Cross, for me,” she remembered. 

“And along with that conviction, I felt a great sorrow, similar to what I had experienced when I was little and prayed the Stations of the Cross. When I returned to my pew, I already had imprinted in me something that was not there before. I had to do something for Him Who had given his life for me.”

3. After taking her first vows in 2006, she served in Spain and the United States, before Ecuador. She was most committed to serving Christ. She wrote, “My heart is Yours, my mind is Yours, my thoughts are Yours. Ask me for anything. Nothing matters now, since nothing I have is mine! Possess me, Jesus.” 

4. She is known for her joy. “Thanks to the original footage of her, I think people are truly able to get to know her as she was: full of joy. We have many clips of her laughing and joking around, and I think this permits the viewers to see the true happiness that only God can give,” explained her biographer from her order, Sister Kristen Gardner, who was also responsible for the popular documentary.

5. Lives have been changed through Sister Clare’s witness.

“Several married couples who had difficulties having children have written us to give thanks for Sister Clare’s intercession,” Sister Kristen said. “A few have even named their baby girl after Sister Clare.”

Sister Kristen highlighted the case of a couple who lost their baby daughter on the day she was born. The father, who had lived on the same street as Sister Clare, prayed for his childhood friend’s intercession. The sisters also prayed that his wife would be able to give birth to another child. Eventually, the couple welcomed a new daughter into the world. 

This is just one of several reports of fertility miracles attributed to Sister Clare’s intercession.

“We do not have certainty as to whether these pregnancies have an explanation on a natural level or not,” explained Sister Kristen. “We would have to wait for future studies about each case and the Church will have to deem whether they are truly miracles or not. The fact is that these couples are very thankful to Sister Clare.”

“In any case,” she added, “beyond the reports of ‘miracles’ of this type or others of other types of physical healings, the most reports we receive are of spiritual miracles. And these are the most important.” 

She continued: “There are people who were on the point of suicide and they have run into the documentary about Sister Clare and they once again have hope and joy to live. Others were far from the Catholic Church and have found their faith again.

“Others were living a lukewarm faith and Our Lord, through Sister Clare’s testimony, has awoken them and given them new strength to give their all to the Lord and fight for holiness. Many young people have found the strength to respond to their vocation to the priesthood and religious life … and the list could go on.”

Sister Kristen emphasized, “So many souls depend on our generous ‘Yes’ to God. We can see this in Sister Clare’s own life: how many souls are reaching God through her testimony. What would have happened if she had said, ‘No?’” 

 

WATCH

YouTube documentary