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The Life of St. Clare of Assisi
St. Clare of Assisi
In a grand house just outside of the Duomo Di San Rufino in Assisi, Italy lived Clare Offreducio, the daughter of the Count of Sasso-Rosso. An aristocratic woman who desired for nothing material in life, Clare chose to leave the luxury around her and become a Franciscan. We know Clare Offreducio as St. Clare of Assisi. She lived from July 16, 1194 to August 11, 1253. We celebrate her feast day on August 11.
Traditionally in the 13th century, it was the duty of an aristocratic daughter to marry a man of her own rank who was chosen by her parents. Clare refused to do this. She felt the call to serve God through poverty and service to others. Many believe that Clare heard Francis of Assisi preach on the piazza in front of the Duomo Di San Rufino. His words opened her heart to the will of God and in 1212 when she was only 18 years old, Clare left her home and joined Francis of Assisi.
She next spent some time with local Benedictine nuns before moving to the Church of San Damiano. This move happened after Clare’s sister Agnes joined her in hope that she too could a become a religious. After Agnes many other women who had felt a call from God joined Clare at the Church of San Damiano. Soon they developed the religious community of Poor Ladies.
In 1216, Clare’s sisters elected her as abbess of the community. Until then Francis of Assisi had been its leader. Her time as abbess, Clare spent forming tight communicative links with her fellow abbesses around Europe. She also steadfastly insisted against the arguments of several popes that the Poor Ladies had to remain poor. Through all the time, Clare’s friendship with Francis of Assisi continued. Clare was with Francis and cared for him during his final days of life.
On August 9, 1253 – two days before Clare of Assisi’s death – Pope Innocent IV approved Clare’s Law, which allowed the Poor Ladies to live their life of poverty. Two years later, Pope Alexander IV canonized Clare. Her remains are entombed in the Basilica of St. Clare in Assisi. Her Order of Poor Ladies is also known as the Order of St. Clare.
(Source of all related images on webpage and homepage: wikipedia.de.)
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