St. Clare of Assisi

St. Clare of Assisi was born in Assisi on July 16, 1194, as Chiara Offreduccio, the beautiful eldest daughter of Favorino Sciffi, Count of Sasso-Rosso and his wife Ortolana. Tradition says her father was a wealthy representative of an ancient Roman family and her mother was a very devout woman belonging to the noble family of Fiumi. Clare grew up in a privileged environment, surrounded by wealth and nobility, but from an early age, she showed a deep spiritual sensitivity and a desire for a life of prayer and devotion. As a young girl, Clare dedicated herself to prayer, spending long hours in contemplation and seeking to understand the deeper meaning of life beyond the material comforts that surrounded her.

At the age of eighteen, Clare heard St. Francis of Assisi preach during a Lenten service in the church of San Giorgio and was deeply moved by his message of poverty, simplicity, and complete trust in God. Francis's radical approach to living the Gospel resonated with Clare's own spiritual longings, and she asked him to help her live according to the Gospel. On Palm Sunday in 1212, Clare made the courageous decision to leave her father's home and went to the chapel of the Porziuncula to meet with Francis. This was a dramatic moment in her life, as she was leaving behind everything she had known - her family, her wealth, and her social position - to follow a completely different path. While there, Clare's hair was cut off and she was given a plain robe and veil in exchange for her rich gown, symbolizing her complete renunciation of worldly wealth and her commitment to a life of poverty and simplicity.

Clare joined the convent of the Benedictine nuns of San Paulo, near Bastia, under Francis's orders. When her father found her and attempted to force her back into his home, she refused and professed that she would have no other husband than Jesus Christ. This was a powerful declaration of her commitment to Christ and her rejection of the traditional path of marriage and family that was expected of a noblewoman of her time. In order to give her the greater solitude she desired, Francis sent Clare to Sant' Angelo in Panzo, another Benedictine nuns monastery. Clare's sister Catarina, who took the name Agnes, joined her at this monastery, showing that Clare's example had inspired others in her family to follow the same path. The two remained there until a separate dwelling was built for them next to the church of San Damiano.

Over time, other women joined them, wanting to also be brides of Jesus and live with no money. They became known as the "Poor Ladies of San Damiano." They all lived a simple life of austerity, seclusion from the world, and poverty, according to a Rule which Francis gave them as a Second Order. St. Clare and her sisters wore no shoes, ate no meat, lived in a poor house, and kept silent most of the time. Their lives consisted of manual labor and prayer. Yet, they were very happy, because Our Lord was close to them all the time. This radical way of life was a direct challenge to the materialism and wealth of the society around them, and it attracted many women who were seeking a deeper spiritual life.

San Damiano became the center of Clare's new order, which was then known as the "Order of Poor Ladies of San Damiano." For a brief period of time, the order was directed by St. Francis himself and by 1216, Clare became the abbess of San Damiano. Ten years after Clare's death, the order became known as the Order of Saint Clare. While serving as the leader of her order, Clare defended them from the attempts of prelates to impose a rule on them that more closely followed the Rule of Saint Benedict than Francis. Clare was so devoted and dedicated to Francis that she was often referred to as "alter Franciscus," or another Francis. She encouraged and aided the man she saw as a spiritual father figure, and took care of him as he grew old, showing her deep love and respect for the one who had guided her to her vocation.

Following Francis's death, Clare continued to promote her order, fighting off every attempt from each pope trying to impose a rule on her order that would water down their "radical commitment to corporate poverty." This was a constant struggle throughout her life, as Church authorities often tried to modify the strict poverty that Clare and her sisters had embraced. Clare was determined to maintain the radical simplicity and poverty that Francis had taught them, believing that this was essential to their spiritual life and their witness to the world.

In 1224, an army of rough soldiers from Frederick II came to attack Assisi. Although very sick, Clare went out to meet them with the Blessed Sacrament on her hands. She had the Blessed Sacrament placed at the wall where the enemies could see it. Then on her knees, she begged God to save the Sisters. "O Lord, protect these Sisters whom I cannot protect now," she prayed. A voice seemed to answer: "I will keep them always in My care." In that moment, a sudden fright struck the attackers and they fled as fast as they could without harming anyone in Assisi. This miraculous event became one of the most famous stories about St. Clare and demonstrated her deep faith and trust in God's protection.

St. Clare became sick and suffered great pains for many years, but she expressed that no pain could trouble her. So great was her joy in serving the Lord that she once exclaimed: "They say that we are too poor, but can a heart which possesses the infinite God be truly called poor?" On August 9, 1253, Pope Innocent IV declared Clare's rule would serve as the governing rule for Clare's Order of Poor Ladies. Two days later, Clare died at 59-years-old. Her remains were placed in the chapel of San Giorgio while the church dedicated to her remains was being built. At Pope Innocent's request, the canonization process for Clare began immediately, and two years later in 1255, Pope Alexander IV canonized Clare as Saint Clare of Assisi. The construction of the Basilica of Saint Clare was finished in 1260, and on October 3, 1260 Clare's remains were transferred there and buried beneath the high altar. Nearly 600 years later, her remains were transferred once again to a newly constructed shrine in the crypt of the Basilica of Saint Clare. The Order of Poor Ladies was officially changed to the Order of Saint Clare in 1263 by Pope Urban IV.

Liturgical Celebration

The feast of St. Clare of Assisi is celebrated on August 11th, during the summer season when the Church reflects on the themes of growth and harvest. This feast is celebrated as a memorial in the Roman Catholic Church, recognizing Clare's importance as the founder of the Poor Clares and her powerful example of poverty and prayer. The feast falls during a time when many people are enjoying the fruits of their labor, making it an ideal time to remember Clare's message about the true nature of wealth and the importance of spiritual riches over material possessions. The feast provides an opportunity to honor Clare's memory and to reflect on the importance of simplicity, prayer, and trust in God in our own lives.

Traditions and Customs

On the feast day of St. Clare of Assisi, many people participate in special prayers and devotions to honor her memory and seek her intercession. Churches, particularly those with Poor Clare communities, hold special Masses and services. Many people gather to pray for the gift of simplicity and to ask for Clare's help in living a more prayerful life. The day is also marked by prayers for those who work in television and media, asking for St. Clare's intercession in helping them to use their talents for good and to promote positive values. Many people also take time to reflect on their own relationship with material possessions and to pray for the grace to live more simply and to focus on what truly matters in life. The feast is also a time to reflect on how we can incorporate Clare's virtues of poverty, prayer, and courage into our daily lives.

Prayer and Devotion

The feast day is an excellent time to pray for the gift of simplicity and the ability to focus on what truly matters in life. Many people make special petitions for those who work in media and television, asking for St. Clare's intercession in helping them to use their platforms for good and to promote positive values. The day is also a time to reflect on the importance of prayer in our lives and to pray for the grace to make prayer a priority. St. Clare's feast day encourages us to remember that true wealth comes from our relationship with God and that we are called to live lives of simplicity and trust. It is also a time to pray for the courage to follow our own calling, even when it means going against societal expectations or facing opposition from others. The feast reminds us that we are all called to be saints and that holiness is achieved through prayer, sacrifice, and complete trust in God.