S CLARE OF ASSISI (1194-1253) - 11th Aug

 S CLARE OF ASSISI (1194-1253)

    Clare’s father was a count and died when the girl was very young. After hearing St. Francis of Assisi preach in the streets, Clare confided to him her desire to live for God, 

    and the two became close friends. On Palm Sunday in 1212, her bishop presented Clare with a palm, which she apparently took as a sign. With her cousin Pacifica, Clare ran away to 

    enter religious life. She eventually took the veil from St. Francis at the Church of Our Mother of the Angels in Assisi. Clare founded the Order of 

    Poor Ladies and led it for 40 years. Everywhere the Franciscans established themselves throughout Europe depending solely on alms, forced to have complete faith on God. 

    Clare’s mother and sisters later joined the Order. Clare was humble, merciful, charming, optimistic, chivalrous, and every day she meditated on the Passion of Jesus. 

    Once when her convent was about to be attacked, she displayed the Sacrament in a Monstrance

    at the convent gates, and prayed before it; the attackers left, the house was saved, and the image of her holding a Monstrance became one of her emblems. 

    Toward the end of her life, when she was too ill to attend Mass, an image of the service would display on the wall of her cell; thus her patronage of television. 

    She was ever the close friend and spiritual student of Francis, who apparently led her soul into the light at her death. 




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