St Clare

St Clares : How to read the church

St Clare is the patron saint of this church and is depicted as a :

1. Figure on the Triptych (series of paintings) to the rear of the sanctuary

2. A statue located over the main entrance door.

3. A statue in niche adjacent to the Lady Chapel and with the rear wall showing a scene from Assisi the birthplace of St Clare

Clare was the name of both wives of the benefactors who paid for the construction of the church building.

The story of St Clare

Saint Clare of Assisi, born Chiara Offreduccio, (July 16 1194 - August 11 1253 ) was one of the first followers of Francis of Assisi and founded the Order of Poor Ladies to organize the women who chose to embrace monastic life in the Franciscan vision .

Clare was born in Assisi, Italy in 1194 as the eldest daughter of Favorino Scifi, Count of Sasso-Rosso. In 1210, Clare heard Francis preaching in the streets of Assisi about his new mendicant order (then newly-approved by Pope Innocent III ) and was moved by his words. Clare and her sister fled their home to follow Francis, who received them into religious life. She and her sister had their hair cut short and put on rough tunics to indicate their acceptance of the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, and stayed with a nearby monastery of Benadictine nuns until moving to San Damiano, where Clare and Agnes(Clare's sister) founded the Order of Poor Ladies (also then known as the Order of San Damiano).

In 1216, Clare accepted the role of abbess at San Damiano . Clare played a significant role in encouraging and aiding Francis, whom she saw as a spiritual father figure: she took care of him during his illnesses at the end of his life, until his death in 1226.

After Francis's death, Clare continued to promote the growth of her order, writing letters to abbesses in other parts of Europe and thwarting every attempt by each successive Pope to impose a Rule on her order which watered down the radical commitment she had originally embraced. She did this despite the fact that she had endured a long period of poor health until her death.

She is known for her loyalty to Saint Francis.

(The above description was taken from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

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