“We have to be Saints! It’s All or nothing! We can’t remain in mediocrity.”
Clare Theresa was born on November 14, 1982, in Derry of Northern Ireland to Gerald and Margaret Crockett, a Catholic family. She had 2 sisters, Megan and Shauna.
She had dreamt of becoming a movie star and during her teenage years, she no longer frequented the Church.
She quickly grabbed the attention of television producers and at the age of 15, was hired to host a TV show. She soon caught the attention of Nickelodeon.
In the Holy Week of the year 2000, she took her sick friend’s place for a Home of the Mother 10-day retreat in Spain. She was looking for sun and parties but soon found herself immersed in a group who intensely celebrated the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord while staying in a convent. She hated it and refused to partake until Good Friday when she thought she better join the others for Mass. Still, she sat in the last pew.
During the Good Friday liturgy, the faithful adore and kiss the Crucifix. She went up and kissed Jesus’ feet and at that moment, she felt him talk to her, and she spoke to a priest about it afterwards. When she returned home, she fell back into her old ways.
While in a pub, and after feeling sick from drinking too much, she felt His presence and Him saying to her, “Why are you hurting me like this?” God’s presence was so strong that she could not ignore it. The following year, she felt great emptiness and returned to the Sisters of the Home of the Mother in Spain to become a nun, shocking friends and family. No pleas, or false promises stopped her.
In 2010, she took her final vows and her 1st assignment was a community at Belmonte in Cuenca, Spain.
In 2 years, she received a new assignment in Ecuador, taking her to various parts of the country, evangelizing the youth. Her and the fellow Sisters, gave classes in schools in poor areas and hosted retreats and summer camps. They also tended to the poor, bringing food, medicine, and resources.
Despite heat, fatigue, and suffering from migraines, she would evangelize with song while carrying a great sense of humor and giving of herself completely to others.
On April 16, 2016, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Ecuadorian province of Manabí, killing at least 600. While singing with companions, the house where she was staying collapsed. She was discovered hours later under the rubble and had died from multiple injuries.
Her story spread around the world, touching the lives of many, and by November, her cause for beatification was officially announced. Her grave became a place of pilgrimage for people from all over the world.
Her family was devastated and her parents never recovered from her death, and died within 6 years of her passing. They are buried alongside her.
She is only the 2nd nun of Irish birth to be considered for sainthood.
A 4 year old boy had fallen a great distance onto his head. He was hemorrhaging with blood coming from his ear. On the way to the hospital, the parents prayed to Clare. The results of the MRI and tests showed he had no damage at all.
Another case involves a cancer patient who prayed to Clare and the cancer is now gone.
For God’s Glory.
