The Life of Clare

A fresco of St. Clare of Assisi

Words are often catalysts that bring about change in our lives by opening our minds and hearts to God. This is exactly what happened to St. Clare of Assisi (born on July 16, 1194) whose feast day we celebrate on August 11.

Clare Offreduccio – the daughter of Count of Sasso-Rosso – was born in Assisi and lived a life of material well being. Her wealthy aristocratic parents provided her with whatever she needed to be comfortable. But Clare was not free. Custom held that a girl of her rank marry an aristocrat who had been chosen by her father and mother. Clare however felt her calling was to serve God by working for the poor. She had – it is believed by many - heard Francis of Assisi preaching on the piazza outside the Duomo Di San Rufino and understood that God was calling her to live a Franciscan way of life.

Assisi, Italy

In 1212, as an 18 year-old young woman, Clare ran away from her family home and joined Francis of Assisi to live as a religious. Eventually she settled with a group of Benedictine nuns. When Clare’s sister Agnes joined her, the two women settled at the Church of San Damiano. Here other women came to Clare, wanting to serve the Lord by living in poverty and service to others. Connected by their faith and sense of service, these women formed the religious community of Poor Ladies. Francis of Assisi maintained a leadership position in the group until 1216 when the Poor Ladies elected Clare as their abbess.

The Church of San Damiano

Clare’s work as abbess of the Poor Ladies included resisting a number of popes who challenged Clare’s need to live in complete poverty and maintaining supportive communication with fellow abbesses across Europe. Clare also maintained a close friendship with Francis of Assisi, caring for her brother as he prepared himself to leave his earthly life for heaven.

Basilica of St. Clare of Assisi

Clare died on August 11, 1253. Two days before Pope Innocent IV affirmed Clare’s Rule, which established the Poor Ladies’ life of poverty as law. In 1255, Clare of Assisi became a saint after her canonization by Pope Alexander IV. Her remains rest in the Basilica of St. Clare in Assisi, Italy. Since 1263 her Poor Ladies are known as the Order of St. Clare.

(Sources of all related images on webpage and homepage: www.wikipedia.org and Conventual Franciscans.)