Category Archives: Clare of Assisi

Feast Day for Saint Clare of Assisi

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Saint Clare of Assisi

Chiara (Clare) Offreduccio was born in Assisi, Italy, on July 16, 1194. She belonged to a wealthy Assisi clan, during the time of the High Middle Ages.

At some time in her life, she came in contact with Saint Francis of Assisi, a young man who had encountered Christ, and was moved to turn his life around. The son a wealthy cloth merchant, he gave up his life of wealth and privilege, and dedicated his life to really living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Francis wandered the streets of Assisi, proclaiming the Good News, and living a very simple life. He began to draw followers from among the young men of Assisi. And he drew the attention of Clare.

In conversations with Francis, she felt a fire being lit within her own soul. She gave up her life of wealth and privilege; dedicated herself to a life of strict poverty and intense prayer. Her life attracted other women and together they formed a community known as “The Order of Poor Ladies.” With help of Francis, Clare drew up their Rule. They would become a monastic Order, inspired by the example of Clare. They lived in simple quarters, next to one of the churches Francis repaired, San Damiano. And Francis, himself, would remain as a source of inspiration and guidance.

Clare lost her teacher and guide on the evening of October 3, 1226. She would live on until August 11, 1253. The community of sisters that survived her, became known as the ‘Poor Clares.”

Feast Day of Saint Clare of Assisi – 2023

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Saint Clare of Assisi

Clare of Assisi was a daughter of a noble and wealthy parents. It was expected that she would soon be given away in marriage to a nobleman of the city. However, one day she heard Francis of Assisi preaching, and something touched her heart. Accompanied by a friend, she secretly met with Francis, listening to him speak about truly living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Clare decided that she too wished to live and follow the way of the Gospel. One evening, with a companion, she slipped out of her family’s mansion, and went to the chapel known as the Portiuncula. There, in the presence of the other friars, she had her hair cut short, and received a plain habit and veil from Francis. She would eventually take up residence in the church of San Damiano. A small community of women began to grow up around her. This included two of her sisters, and eventually, her mother. Francis wrote a form of life to guide them, which Clare would include the Rule she composed later on.

The fame, the popularity of the Poor Sisters, as they were called, began to grow. It grew beyond the borders of the Italian provinces, into Europe, usually with the help and guidance of the Franciscan friars. It was in Prague, in the country of Hungary, that the movement came to the attention of a woman by the name of Agnes, daughter of a king. Inspired by what she learned about Francis, and the lives of Clare and her Poor Sisters. Agnes had a monastery built, and she and other women joined the Franciscan movement. Clare would eventually hear about Agnes of Prague, and she reached out to her, providing spiritual guidance. Four of her letters to Agnes of Prague survived.

“O most noble Queen, gaze upon (Him), consider (Him), contemplate (Him), as you desire to imitate (Him). If you suffer with Him, you will reign with Him. (If you) weep ( with Him), you shall rejoice with Him; (If you) die with Him on the cross of tribulation, you shall possess heavenly mansions in the splendor of the saints, and, in the Book of Life, your name shall be called glorious among men.” Second Letter from Clare to Agnes of Prague

Feast of Saint Clare

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Illustration by Mark Balma

Saint Clare of Assisi was born in 1194. A daughter of a noble Italian family of the city of Assisi. This young lady, who was not particularly interested in entering a noble marriage, heard Saint Francis preaching, and wanted to live the Gospel life he espoused. Because of the social strictures of her times, she began living the Gospel life behind the walls of a monastery.

From behind those walls, she was still able to inspire people to follow Christ. Women came to be admitted to her community located around the chapel of San Damiano, one of the first churches Francis repaired. They lived a simple life of prayer and work. They claimed nothing for their own, no dowries, no financial endowments. People came from all around Assisi, seeking her advice and guidance.

Her influence could be felt beyond the Italian borders; when a noble woman, Agnes of Prague, inspired by lives of Franciscan friars in Hungary, sought Clare’s advice. Agnes would herself establish a Franciscan monastery. Clare, would advise her in several letters. In her second letter to Agnes, she wrote: 

O most noble Queen,
gaze upon Him,
consider Him,
contemplate Him, 
as you desire to imitate Him.
If you suffer with Him, you will reign with Him.
If you weep with Him, you shall rejoice with Him;
If you die with Him on the cross of tribulation, you shall possess heavenly mansions in the splendor of the saints and,in the Book of Life, your name shall be called glorious among men.

Saint Clare died on August 11,1253.