Clare came from a wealthy and noble family in Assisi. Her father died
young. After hearing St. Francis of Assisi preach in the streets, she
confided to him her desire to live for God, the two became close friends.
On Palm Sunday 1212, the bishop presented her with a palm, which she
apparently took as a sign. She eventually took the veil of religious
profession from Francis at the Church of Our Lady of the Angels in
Assisi.She founded the Order of Poor Ladies (Poor Clares) at San Damiano,
and led it for 40 years. Everywhere the Franciscans established themselves
throughout Europe, there also went the Poor Clares, depending solely on
alms, forced to have complete faith on God to provide through people; a
lack of land-based revenues was a new idea at the time.
Clare loved music and well-composed sermons. She was humble, merciful,
charming, optimistic, and chivalrous. She daily meditated on the Passion.
When she learned of the Franciscan martyrs in Morrocco in 1221, she tried
to go there to give her own life for God, but was restrained. Once when
her convent was about to be attacked, she displayed the Sacrament in a
monstrace at the convent gates, and prayed before it; the attackers left.
Toward the end of her life, when she was too ill to attend Mass, an image
of the service would display on the wall of her cell; thus her patronage
of television. She was ever the close friend and spiritual student of
Francis, who apparently led her soul into the light.
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Born 16 July 1194 at Assisi, Italy |
Died 11 August 1253 of natural causes |
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Canonized 26 September 1255 by Pope Alexander IV |
Name Meaning bright; brilliant |
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Patronage embroiderers; eye disease; eyes; gilders; goldsmiths; gold workers; good weather; laundry workers; needle workers; Santa Clara Indian Pueblo; telegraphs; telephones; television; television writers |
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Representation host; monstrance; woman with a monstrance in her hand |
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