St. Clare of Assisi

"Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me." - Saint Clare of Assisi





Shortly after hearing Saint Francis of Assisi preach in the streets, Clare of Assisi (1194-1255) talked to him about her strong desire to live for God, and then afterwards they became close friends. On Palm Sunday in the year 1212, Clare was given a palm from the bishop, which she took as a sign. She and her cousin Pacifica escaped from their palace during the night, and later on took the veil of religious profession from St. Francis at the Church of Our Lady of the Angels in Assisi. She founded the Order of Poor Ladies, also known as Sisters of St. Clare, Second Order of St. Francis, and Poor Clare nuns. Later, Clare's mother and sisters joined her order. Clare enjoyed music, as well as well-composed sermons. Her sisters saw her as humble, merciful, charming, optimistic, and chivalrous. Sometimes at might, Clare would get up to tuck in her sisters who would kick off their bed sheets. Every day she would meditate on the Passion.

St. Clare is often pictured with the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance, because there once was a time when the convent was about to be attacked, but the attackers left after she displayed the Sacrament at the convent gates, and prayed before it. Around the end of her life, there was once a time when she was too ill to attend Mass, but she would see the service appear on the wall of her cell, making her the patroness of television. Clare later died on the 11th of August, in the year 1253, of natural causes.
She was canonized on the 26th of September, in the year 1255, by Pope Alexander IV