About St. Clare of Assisi

St. Clare is another female role model, who came from a wealthy family but walked away from her comfortable life to adopt a life of poverty. She was profoundly influenced by St. Francis and modeled her religious order after the Franciscan model of living in similar poverty to Jesus and His disciples.

Childhood

She was born July 16, 1194, to Favorino Sciffi, the Count of Sasso-Rosso and his wife Orolana. They named her Chiara Offreduccio. Hers was a fairly wealthy Italian family, and her mother was a particularly devout Christian.

So Clare was raised in the faith, but she was especially impacted by the preaching of Francis of Assisi at a Lenten service in 1212 when she was 18 years old. They began to meet to discuss her desire to serve the poor and their mutual love of God, and Francis was taken by her holiness.

Her Bold Move to Religious Life

Then on Palm Sunday of that year, Clare sneaked out of her house during the night and fled to Our Lady of the Angels, where Francis and his brothers welcomed her into their newly founded community. She cut her hair and traded her expensive clothing for a simple habit with a rope belt. But the community was not set up to house women yet, so Francis sent her to the Benedictine convent of San Paolo della Abbadesse for a short time and then to the Monatero di Saint ‘Angelo di Panzo. While there, her sister Catherine, who Francis renamed Agnes, also joined her.

After a few weeks Clare and Agnes moved to a home that was built for them next to the church of San Damiano, where Clare spent the rest of her life. Soon other women were drawn to Clare’s new Order of the Poor Ladies of San Damiano, which was directed by Francis until he made Clare the abbess in 1216. The Poor Ladies went barefoot, slept o the floor, ate no meat, and observed almost complete silence. Much like the Franciscan friars, they adopted a rule of complete poverty, modeled after Jesus and His disciples.

Defending Her Privilege of Poverty

Of course, she faced criticism from people who thought such a life was not appropriate for women. In fact, she had to withstand pressures from many church leaders, including 5 different popes, to defend the “privilege of poverty.” (cited here, para 20) Clare wanted her sisters to pray simply. She wanted them to live in the faith that God would provide for their needs. She argued, “I need to be absolved from my sins, but I do not wish to be absolved from the obligation of following Jesus Christ.” (cited here, para 5)

As the order of the Poor Ladies was beginning, Francis gave them a rule of life to follow as a Second Order of Franciscans, and Clare was diligent to remain true to his wishes. Then in 1247, Clare wrote her own rule of life for the sisters, modeled after St. Francis’ teaching. Pope Innocent IV approved it August 9, 1253, just two days before Clare’s death, making Clare the first woman to write her own rule for a religious order.

Joy Through Faith

Again in Clare we see an example of the lasting joy that comes from communion with Jesus. Clare was confined to bed for a long time at the end of her life. One of the brothers who sat beside her in her final days shared this quote from her, “Dear brother, ever since through His servant Francis I have known the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, I have never in my whole life found any pain or sickness that could trouble me.” (cited here, para 8)

Throughout her life, Clare was always obedient and loyal to Francis. She regarded him as a sort of spiritual father for her. Clare was never prideful or arrogant, but lived a simple life of complete devotion to and dependence upon God, which brought her more happiness than most people ever know.

Sainthood

Because of her reputation of holiness, the Pope himself came to her deathbed in 1253 to give her absolution. In fact, he wanted to canonize her immediately after her death, but was advised against it. She died August 11, 1253, and was canonized by Pope Alexander IV September 26, 1255.

Clare is a patron saint for a great number of causes, including eye disease, good weather, goldsmiths, embroiderers, and even television. Stick with us this week and I’ll explain why Pope Pius XII, in February of 1958, declared her a patron saint of television. We’ll also talk about her remarkable faith and learn from her amazing devotion.