1194–1253
Co-founder of the Poor Clares with Saint Francis of Assisi — the first woman to write a religious rule for women.
Chiara Offreduccio was born to a noble Assisi family in 1194 and from her teenage years was inspired by the radical poverty of Francis of Assisi. At eighteen, on Palm Sunday 1212, she fled her family home secretly to meet Francis at the Portiuncula chapel. Francis cut her hair, gave her a simple habit, and placed her temporarily with Benedictine nuns until a new community could be formed. Her younger sister Catarina (Saint Agnes of Assisi) joined her sixteen days later, followed eventually by their mother, another sister, and many others. Clare became the founder and abbess of what became the Order of Saint Clare (the Poor Clares) — the second order of the Franciscan family, dedicated to absolute poverty in radical Franciscan style. Clare insisted, against repeated pressure from popes who wanted to soften the order's rule, that the Poor Clares own no property — corporate or individual — and live solely on what they could grow and what others gave them. She wrote her own Rule, becoming the first woman in Christian history to author a religious rule for women, and she lived to see it approved by Pope Innocent IV on her deathbed in 1253. She is famous for an episode in 1234 when Saracen mercenaries attacked the convent at San Damiano: Clare, terminally ill, had herself carried to the door holding the consecrated host in a monstrance; the attackers reportedly turned and fled. She is patron of television (declared by Pope Pius XII in 1958) because during a Christmas Mass she was too ill to attend, she reportedly saw and heard the Mass on the wall of her room — an early 'television' moment.
Clare's miracles include: the Saracen attack repelled by her display of the Eucharist (1234); the multiplication of bread for her sisters (multiple recorded instances); healings of the sick at the convent; the 'television' miracle (seeing a distant Mass from her sickbed); after her death, the discovery of her body incorrupt, still visible in the basilica of Santa Chiara in Assisi. Pope Pius XII declared her patron of television in 1958, citing the Christmas Mass episode.
“Place your mind before the mirror of eternity! Place your soul in the brilliance of glory!”
“Our labor here is brief, but the reward is eternal.”
O Saint Clare, daughter of Saint Francis, who in love for the poor Christ embraced perfect poverty and joyfully served the sick and suffering, intercede for us before our Lord. Help us to seek the kingdom of God above all earthly goods, to find joy in simplicity, and to bring the light of Christ to those around us. Pray for those who are sick, especially (mention specific intention). Amen.
Saint Clare of Assisi (1194-1253) was the co-founder, with Saint Francis of Assisi, of the second Franciscan order — the Poor Clares — dedicated to absolute poverty in service to Christ. She was the first woman in Christian history to write a religious rule for women, and she lived to see it approved by the pope on her deathbed. She is patron of television (declared 1958).
During a Christmas Mass when Clare was too ill to attend, she reportedly saw and heard the Mass on the wall of her sickroom — an early 'remote viewing' miracle. Pope Pius XII cited this episode when he declared her the patron saint of television in 1958. She is also patron of communication and the eyes (because she 'saw' Mass from afar).
Clare's rule was radical for her time: the sisters of her order own no property, corporate or individual, and live solely on what they grow and what others give them — true poverty in imitation of Christ. Popes repeatedly pressed her to soften this rule (most religious orders held corporate property); Clare resisted until her death, finally winning approval for her rule from Pope Innocent IV in 1253. The Poor Clares still live this rule today.