Saint Clare of Assisi

Catholic Saint

st.Clare of Assisi-Founder of the Franciscan Poor Clares

Feast Day : August 11

Patronage: against sore eyes; Assisi; the blind; embroiderers; gilders; glass painters; glaziers; laundry women; television

Clare was born on July 11, 1194, to a noble family. Her father was Faverone Offreducio Ortolanadi Fiumi. During Lent in 1212, she heard St. Francis of Assisi preach and decided to imitate him and live a poor, humble life for Jesus. She ran away from home and dedicated herself to God on Palm Sunday in a little chapel outside Assisi. Francis cut off her hair and gave her the rough brown Franciscan habit. She went to the Benedictine convent near Bastia. Clare’s distraught parents tried to no avail to make her return home. Soon her sister, St. Agnes of Assisi, joined her, as well as other young women. In 1215 Clare became the superior of the Poor Clares and moved into a house adjoining the church of St. Damiano. The sisters wore no shoes, ate no meat, kept no money and kept silent most of the time. Clare’s mother and another sister, Beatrice, joined the community. The Poor Clares were granted a rule of absolute poverty by Pope Innocent III (r. 1198–1216).

Clare established other convents, and the order spread throughout Italy and into France and Germany. Many people sought her out for her wisdom, including high-ranking clergy and secular officials. Clare performed numerous miracles. After prayer, her face was often lit with an unusual, dazzling radiance. Once her prayer saved her convent from attack by Saracens. Despite being ill, Clare had herself carried to the wall and had the Blessed Sacrament placed where the enemies could see it. She got down on her knees and begged God to save the sisters. “O Lord, protect these Sisters whom I cannot protect now,” she prayed. A voice answered, “I will keep them always in my care.” Suddenly the attackers fled. On another occasion she saved the city of Assisi from attack by the army of Emperor Frederick II. Clare was sick throughout much of her life. Toward the end, she had a vision of the Mass in her bed—and for this later became the patroness of television. She died on August 11, 1253.