“To Holiness through Lowliness” is the motto of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation.  Holiness means the perfection of love. The mark of the true disciple of Jesus is love and the perfection of love lies in total sacrifice. Lowliness of heart is the core of all Franciscan values. It fosters fraternity and peace flows from a lowly heart. It gives birth to the virtues of humility, meekness, simplicity, self-sacrifice, forgiveness and mercy. Humility is the internal attitude and poverty is the external expression of ‘Lowliness.’ Lowliness is the lifestyle, beauty, identity and hallmark of FCC. St. Paul invites us to imbibe the lowliness of the Crucified Jesus: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross” (Phil 2:5-8). Blessed Mother Mary called herself ‘the servant of the Lord’. St. Francis professionally accepted the life of a minority. Mother Clare was so humble and was like a servant to all the sisters; Founding Mothers were so lowly and subject to every one. An FCC sister wherever she is, or whatever she does, considers herself lesser and others better than herself. Hence lowliness is the outstanding means for an FCC sister to become holy.