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Saint Clare

These words summarize Clare’s life and spirit:
«I, Clare, servant of Christ, little plant of our Father Francis.»
«To follow Christ in the footsteps of Saint Francis in poverty, humility, and charity. No one has ever more fully realized the ideal conceived by man than this woman» (Joergensen).
HER LIFE
Born in Assisi in 1194, little is known of her childhood and adolescence. At the age of 18, she consecrated herself to Christ by having her hair cut and wearing the dark robe of the Order of Saint Francis, which, since 1208, had become for her the «fool, whose words seemed fiery and his works superhuman.» After which, she began a life of radical poverty, renouncing everything she had and vowing to live without owning anything. Thus began the Second Franciscan Order: the Poor Ladies or Poor Clares. This happened at Santa Maria degli Angeli (Porziuncola), the church restored by Saint Francis. In 1228, she obtained from the Pope the «privilegioum paupertatis» of living entirely on alms.
The ideal of Saint Francis was realized by Clare and a group of women from Assisi and throughout Italy. Clare lived this ideal for forty-three years without leaving the convent. During her lifetime, she saw her order spread throughout Spain (43 convents in the 13th century, Bohemia, France, and England). Twice, she managed to force the Saracens, enlisted in Frederick II’s army, to flee simply by showing them the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament from her bedroom window (1240), or by exhorting the sisters to prayer, while completely immobilized by her constant pain.
She died at San Damiano, on the outskirts of Assisi, on August 11, 1253. She was canonized just two years later by Alexander IV. She left four letters, the Rule, and her will. «Go in peace, for you have followed the right path; go with confidence, for your Creator has sanctified you, guarded you unceasingly, and loved you with the tenderness of a mother with her child.» «O God, blessed are you for having created me.» These were the last words of a great mystic filled with joy and love for God and humanity. Feast Day, August 11.
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