St Clare of Assisi is one of the first Saints that I ever really ‘noticed’ and studied after I became a Christian. The main reason for that I think is probably because I spent some time on retreat at a Poor Clares’ convent just after my calling to Christ. In the chapel there was a beautiful hand-carved wooden statue of St Clare on one wall and one of St Francis of Assisi opposite her. Clare – born Clare Offreducio on 16th July 1194 - was the protege of Francis and became a follower of his after hearing him preach. She went against her parents wishes and refused the chance of marriage to follow Francis into the religious life and it was he who, during a private seremony, cut off her hair as she renounced the world and became a sevant of Jesus her heavenly spouse, accepting the cloistered life of a nun.
She then stayed temporarily in a Benedictine Community, which I didn’t realise, before she founded her own community at San Damiano and embraced the Franciscan way of life as Abbess of an enclosed, contemplative community. Her sisters Agnes and Beatrix joined her there and later her aunt and mother. Not much else is known of her cloistered life but she must have written her Rule during this time. She passed away in 1253 and was cannonized two years later by Pope Alexander IV. Her Rule was found in the fold of her mantle in 1893, I’m amazed there was anything left of it to find after all those years.
I so admire Clare’s courage in going against the ‘norm’ which, during the 13th Century, must have been such a radical thing to do. I am eternally inspired by her and other Poor Clares [known as 'Poor Ladies' in Clare's time] that I’ve met. They are hard working women, with a gentle nature and a willingness to serve both God and people. There is an inner light that shines from within these nuns that cannot fail to touch you when you meet them. There is also a maternal side to them which becomes apparent should you be lucky enough to get to know any of them more deeply. A sense of peace and tranquility emanates from them and they demonstrate a humble modesty that is contagious. Women of faith in every sense and I pray for a fraction of their dedication and discipline as I try to live out my calling to religious life in a secular way.
The feast of St Clare is celebrated on 11th August to mark the anniversary of her death.
St Clare will always have a special place in my heart as someone who intrigued and inspired me at the beginning of my faith through her life, faith and teachings and through the work of the Poor Clares in contemporary society.
for you will have a good escort,
because He who created you
has sent you the Holy Spirit
and has always guarded you
as a mother does her child
who loves her. Saint Clare of Assisi
