August 11
Saint Clare of Assisi
Foundress of Poor Clares
(1194 – 1253)
“How can man complain when he beholds Christ hanging on the cross and covered with blood!”
Saint Clare of Assisi
Click here for the Amazon page
or on the Book Cover Image above to buy it!
Click here for the Amazon page
or on the Book Cover Image above to buy it!
Saint’s Life Story
Her Early Life
Chiara Offreduccio, also know as Clare, was born on July 16, 1194, in Assisi, Italy, 12 miles east of Perugia in the Italian province of Umbria. She was the eldest daughter of a count, Favarone, and her mother was the countess Blessed Orsolana. Her dad owned a large palace in Assisi and a castle on the slope of Mount Subasio. Her mom was a very devout woman who had undertaken pilgrimages to Rome, Santiago de Compostela, and the Holy Land. Clare’s younger sisters, Beatrix and Catarina, followed her into religious life. Catarina latter took the name Agnes and became an early abbess in the order and also a Saint.
As a child, Clare was taught the ways of Christianity by her mother. She became very religious and led a life of prayer.
When Clare was twelve, her parents, adhering to the customs of the time, intended to arrange a marriage for her with a wealthy nobleman. However, Clare expressed her desire to wait until she turned eighteen, to which her parents agreed.
Joining Saint Francis of Assisi
When Clare was nearing her eighteenth birthday, she attended a Lenten mission at the church of San Giorgio in Assisi, preached by Saint Francis of Assisi. His words fired her up. She sought him out secretly and asked him to help her that she too might live “after the manner of the holy gospel “. Saint Francis spoke to Clare of contempt for the world and love of God. He strengthened her nascent desire to leave all things for Christ.
On Palm Sunday in 1212 for the blessing of palms, Clare’s bishop presented her with a palm, which she interpreted as a sign from God. Filled with spiritual longing, Clare, along with her cousin Pacifica, ran away from her mother’s palace at night, aided by her Aunt Bianca and another woman from her household. Walking a mile out of the town to Porziuncula, where Saint Francis lived with his little community, Clare entered and began her start of a religious life soon to be remembered by all.
Saint Francis and his brethren met her at the door of the chapel of our Lady of the Angels and cut off Clare’s beautiful hair. Then, he gave Clare his penitential habit, which was a tunic of sackcloth tied about her with a cord to replace her fine clothing. Since Saint Francis did not have a convent yet, he placed her for the present time in the Benedictine convent of St Paul near Bastia, where she was affectionately received.
Her family came to take her back, but Clare clung to the altar cloths and would not go. As they grabbed her, she pulled off her veil and the shock of seeing her bald head convinced them to leave her be.
Her Sister Catarina (Agnes) Joins Her
As the Benedictine abbey would have been quite aristocratic, and not quite suited to Clare’s temperament, Saint Francis arranged for her to go for a short period to a house of female penitents, Sant’Angelo in Panza on Monte Subasio. It was here that her younger sister Catarina, joined her, taking the name Agnes in religion.
San Damiano
However, Saint Francis soon moved them again to the church of San Damiano, just outside the walls of Assisi. This was the small church which Francis himself had rebuilt in response to a vision. Here other women joined them. San Damiano became symbolic for its radical poverty and austere lifestyle. The women were at first known as the Order of Poor Ladies and later known as the Poor Clares. Saint Francis, a deacon and never ordained a priest, at first directed the order himself. Then, in 1216, Clare accepted the role of abbess of San Damiano. As abbess, Clare had more authority to lead the order than when she was the prioress, having to follow the orders of a priest directing the community.
At San Damiano, Clare lived an austere life. She slept on a straw mattress. Fasting on bread and water on vigils and on Lent, never eating meat, on some days, Clare ate nothing at all. Often, she did penance and awoke in the middle of the night to pray the Divine Office. Year round, she wore a coarse habit and went barefoot on stone floors.
Her Rule
When Saint Francis set up Clare’s community of nuns, he did not give them a formal rule but only guidelines for the religious life. But, soon after that Cardinal Ugolino dei Conti di Segni, a supporter of the Franciscans, who later became Pope Gregory IX, gave them a rule which tried to bring them into the mainstream of religious life. This rule made provision for the nuns to own property and to make sure they had a regular income.
However, this was totally against the radical poverty that Clare wanted and she stubbornly refused. Some time later when he became pope, Gregory IX drew up the Privilegium Paupertatis, a document which gave the nuns the privilege of poverty, allowing them to live entirely on alms. This was not fully what Clare wanted, but it was an important concession. She did not want it as a privilege, but written into her rule. It was only when Clare lay on her deathbed that the new Pope Innocent IV came to San Damiano personally and handed Clare a papal document, Solet Annuere, approving Clare’s own rule. Clare kissed the document in appreciation.
Influenced Others
Clare’s clarity of mind and the force of her spirit influenced her community. In Italy, France and Germany, she helped set up other monasteries . The sisters worked with their hands, spinning and weaving to make cloths for the churches and caring for the garden, but it wasn’t a commercial venture. She was the prayerful servant and inspiration of the other sisters, tending them when they were sick. She was also in correspondence with her sister, now Sister Agnes of Prague, who set up her own community with a similar radical poverty.
Miracle of the Defense of Assisi
In 1244, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II was at war with the Pope Gregory IX. Emperor Frederick II marched an army into Umbria. Among his soldiers, he had a large detachment of Saracens to terrorise Christians. While Frederick’s army besieged Assisi, the Saracens headed for San Damiano. Clare carried the Blessed Sacrament in a pyx or a monstrance to the wall of the convent asking God to “defend those I cannot protect“. She heard a voice answer, “I shall always protect them”. When she stood up, she saw the Saracens riding off into the distance. She asked the sisters to pray that Assisi would be spared and the next day the emperor too withdrew all his soldiers.
Patroness of Television
In her later years Clare was confined to bed and could not attend Mass. The sisters had all gone off to Matins. Clare sighed, saying: “Look, Lord God. I have been left here all alone with you“. Then, she began to hear the organ and the Office and Mass and to see it on the wall of her room as if she was present there herself. Probably with this miracle in mind, Pope Pius XII in 1958 proclaimed her patroness of television. It is interesting that an American Poor Clare nun, Mother Angelica, founded what is probably the foremost evangelizing television network in the world, the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).
Her Death
When in the summer of 1253 Clare lay dying, bishops and cardinals came to see her and the Friars sat at her bedside reading the passion of Our Lord according to St John. Clare received approval of her rule from Pope Innocent IV, mere two days before her death on August 11, 1253 at the age of fifty-nine after years. This marked the first time in history that a woman wrote a rule for religious life that was formally approved.
Despite her hidden life, Saint Clare’s holiness was widely known, so much so that the Pope Innocent IV came to Assisi to celebrate her funeral. In fact, Pope Innocent was cautioned by multiple advisers against having the Office for the Virgin Saints performed at Clare’s funeral. The most vocal of these advisers was Cardinal Raynaldus who would later become Pope Alexander IV, who in two years time would canonize Clare.
A new basilica of St Clare was constructed and in 1260 her remains were transferred to it. Her skeleton can be seen there today.
The Poor Clare Sisters number over 20,000 sisters throughout the world in over 70 countries.
Born: July 16, 1194, in Assisi, Italy
Died: August 11, 1253 in Assisi, Italy
Beatified: None
Canonized: September 26, 1255 by Pope Alexander IV
Feast Day: August 11, formerly August 12
Reflection
Saint Clare of Assisi chose a radical path of love and simplicity. Born into nobility, she gave up wealth, comfort, and social expectations to follow in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi. With quiet strength, she founded the Poor Clares, embracing a life of poverty, prayer, and deep trust in God’s providence. Though she lived behind convent walls, Saint Clare of Assisi’s influence reached far beyond. Her courage was evident not only in her choice of life, but in moments like when she held the Blessed Sacrament high to turn away invaders – placing all her trust in Christ alone. Her life reminds us that holiness doesn’t depend on status, but on love. Her joy came not from what she possessed, but from who possessed her – Christ. In a world filled with noise and distraction, Saint Clare of Assisi’s silence and simplicity call us to focus again on what truly matters.
In what areas of my life am I holding on too tightly, and how might I trust more deeply in God like Saint Clare did—letting go in order to make space for Christ?
Prayers
Saint Clare of Assisi,
You left behind riches and comfort to follow Christ in simplicity and love, trusting Him completely, even when the path was hidden and hard.
Teach us to let go of what holds us back, to quiet our hearts in prayer, and to find our joy in God alone.
May we have the courage to choose holiness, the peace that comes from surrender, and the strength to love without measure.
Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us. Amen.
Saint Links
A Dictionary Of Saintly Women, Volume 1 by Agnes B. C. Dunbar – St Clara or Chiara
Aleteia – A pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Clare of Assisi
All Saints & Martyrs – Saint Clare of Assisi
America Needs Fatima – Saint Clare of Assisi
AnaStpaul – Saint of the Day – 11 August – St Clare of Assisi (1194-1253)
Angelus – Saint of the day: Clare of Assisi
Catholic Exchange – Four Reasons to Love St. Clare of Assisi
Catholic Insight – Pope Benedict XVI General Audience September 15 2010 – Saint Clare of Assisi
Catholic News Agency – Saint Clare of Assisi Feast day: Aug 11
Catholic Online – St. Clare of Assisi
CNews Live – Saint Clare of Assisi
Daily Prayers – Clare of Assisi
Dynamic Catholic – Saint Clare of Assisi
Editions Magnificat – Saint Clare of Assisi Foundress and Abbess (1194-1253)
Franciscan Media – Saint Clare of Assisi
Good Catholic – St. Clare of Assisi: Riches To Rags Love Story
Heralds of the Gospel – Defeated by the Strength of St. Clare
Independent Catholic News – St Clare
Life and Legend of The Lady Saint Clare by Brother Francis du Puis
Loyola Press – Saint Clare Feast Day August 11
Melanie Rigney – Clare of Assisi
My Catholic Life – August 11: Saint Clare, Virgin
New Advent – Robinson, P. (1908). St. Clare of Assisi. In The Catholic Encyclopedia
Newman Connection – Saint Clare
Real Heroes – Saint Clare of Assisi
Regnum Christi (Uncle Eddy) – St Clare
Rev Butler’s Lives Of The Saints Complete Edition – St. Clare, Foundress of the Poor Clares
Roman Catholic Saints – Saint Clare
Saint Mary’s Press – Saint Clare of Assisi (1193-1253)
Saints Alive – St. Clare of Assisi
Saints & Feasts – August 11: Saint Clare, Virgin
Simply Catholic – St. Clare of Assisi
The Catholic Leader – St Clare embraced Christ’s poverty to enter into the riches of Heaven
uCatholic – Saint Clare of Assisi
University of Notre Dame – St. Clare
Video Link
Cradio Saint of the Day: Saint Clare of Assisi – YouTube (CatholicSaints.Info)