“They say that we are too poor, but can a heart which possesses the infinite God be truly called poor?” – St. Clare of Assisi
How well do you know the story of Saint Clare of Assisi? Do you know which saint encouraged her to become a nun, or which of her family members joined her in holy service?
On August 11, as we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Clare of Assisi, we invite you to discover five facts about her life and where you can find her portrayed in the art of the Basilica.
1. When Clare first became a nun, her parents attempted to forcibly remove her from a convent with a dozen armed guards.
The daughter of aristocrats, Clare was born in 1194 and enjoyed a life of comfort and luxury for 18 years, until one day when she heard a life-changing sermon from St. Francis of Assisi. Through his teaching, Clare realized that God was calling her to become a nun. The following night, Clare made the most important decision of her life – she chose to abandon her home and forsake her family’s wealth and social standing to live a holy life. Under cover of darkness, Clare snuck away to meet Francis and his followers at a nearby church, where she traded her opulent clothes for a simple tunic and cut off her hair before traveling to a Benedictine convent. Although her parents attempted to forcibly remove her from her new life and even sent a group of a dozen armed guards to retrieve her, Clare remained ever-vigilant in her faith and fled to a different convent.
2. Shortly after taking her vows, Clare founded a new religious order in 1212.
With the help of St. Francis, Clare soon founded a new religious order for women, which later came to be known as the Poor Clares. Her example of faithfulness had such an impact upon her mother and her sister Agnes, that they also joined her in holy service, becoming fellow members of the order. After living at two different Benedictine monasteries, Clare transferred to the convent in San Damiano in Assisi, where she lived and ministered for the rest of her life.
3. In the Order of the Poor Clares, Clare and her followers lived by stringent rules and gave up all worldly possessions.
To better contemplate Christ, the members of Clare’s order wore no shoes, spoke little, abstained from eating meat, and owned nothing, existing entirely on the food and other items that were given to them. Clare was also known to help nurse those who were sick, in addition to assisting other church leaders who sought her advice on various occasions, including the pope.
4. According to legend, Clare was often seen with a glow around her face after spending time in prayer.
In addition to her dedication to contemplation, Clare is also recognized as a woman who was devoted to prayer, and legend holds that a visible glow could often been seen around her face after she had been praying. In his biography of St. Francis of Assisi, G.K. Chesterton mentions an instance where a discernible aura was seen glowing around the chapel where St. Francis had been praying with Clare.
When she was in her mid-30s Clare was afflicted by a “serious illness,” which she struggled with until her death at age 59. She was canonized merely two years later, in 1255, by Pope Alexander IV.
5. Today, Clare’s order has branches across five continents.
Now, over 770 years after her death, the Order of the Poor Clares has branches in nearly 900 monasteries across five continents. You can find St. Clare of Assisi portrayed in a Trani marble statue in the East Apse of the Great Upper Church, along with four other Franciscan saints.
Sources:
Butler’s Lives of the Saints, ed. by Bernard Bangley.
“Poor Clare,” Britannica.
“Saint Clare of Assisi,” Catholic News Agency.
“Saint Clare of Assisi,” Franciscan Media.
“St. Clare of Assisi,” Catholic.org.
The Way of the Saints, Tom Cowan.