Saint Clare of Assisi Virgin, Foundress of the Poor Clares In the late 1100s, The heir of an ancient new order, in part due to the prestige of Clare’s monastery Roman family, Favorino Sciffi owned a palace in the and her association which had become known as the town of Assisi and a castle on the side of Mount Subasio. “Order of the Poor Ladies of San Damiano,” of which she He married Ortolana Fiumi, a devout woman who had was prioress. The order was directed by Saint Francis taken pilgrimages to Rome and the Holy Land. Together, himself for a short time, until 1216 when he insisted Clare they had three daughters, Clare, who was born in July of accept the role of abbess. 1194, Beatrix and Catarina. The sisters of the “order of the Poor Ladies of San While during her childhood the crusades raged on Damiano,” would live in enclosures. The ladies would in the Middle East, Clare was devoted to her prayers. She live their lives devoted to labor and prayer, walking was meant to be married as was the family tradition, but barefoot and sleeping on the ground, eating no meat and as a teenager she heard the preaching of Saint Francis at observing almost complete silence. Numerous prelates the church of San Giorgio, and asked him to help her live would attempt to impose rules on the Poor Ladies of San in the way which was described in the Gospel. On Palm Damiano more resembling those of the Benedictine rather Sunday, in March of 1212, Clare snuck out of her father’s than the more strict rules of Francis, but Clare resisted the house with her aunt Bianca and another companion, and changes, seeking to imitate Francis in his way of life. they left for the chapel of Porziuncula to meet Francis. Clare would continue to look to Francis as a While there, her hair was cut short, and she traded in her spiritual father figure, and played a significant role in rich clothing for a plain robe and a veil. supporting and aiding Francis in his work. After Francis’ Francis took Clare to the convent of San Paulo eyesight failed and he began to become ill due to his near Bastia, and left her in the care of Benedictive monks. severe austerity, fasting and penances, she began to help After Francis had left, Clare’s father Favorino forced his take care of him during his final illness, until he passed way into the convent and attempted to force her to return away in 1226. home. Clare clung to the altar of the church, and removed As Clare continued to promote and grow her her vail to expose her cropped hair, refusing to have any order, the year following Francis’ death, Pope Honorius husband but Jesus. At this refusal, her father finally left III died and was succeeded by the Cardinal Archbishop of her alone. Ostria, Bishop Hugolino who took the name Gregory IX. A few days later, Clare was taken by Francis to In 1228, Pope Gregory IX offered to dispense Claire from another Benedictine monastery to be taken care of by the the vows of strict poverty she had accepted, to which she nuns of San Angelo in Panzo. Sixteen days after Clare refused. Pope Gregory IX then granted them the had left home to dedicate herself to Christ, her sister Privilegium Pauperitatis, the privilege of the pauper, Catarina arrived at San Angelo to join her, taking on the which guaranteed that no one could oblige them to accept name Agnes. The two underwent a similar ordeal as Clare ownership of any possessions. This became a key had previously experience. With the loss of two of his promise in protecting the order from successive popes daughters, Favarino had become angry, and sent his from attempting to loosen the orders austerity and brother Monaldo with several other men to force Agnes obligations. to return home if they could not persuade her. Monaldo As Clare’s order grew, but her health began to raised his sword to strike his niece, but his arm dropped decline, Assisi and San Damiano were attacked by a pair to his side withered and useless. The other men tried to of Saracen armies in 1240 and 1241. They scaled the drag Agnes out of the monastery by her hair, kicking and walls of the monastery and invaded the cloister where the striking her, but her body became so heavy that they could sisters lived. When the sisters appealed to Clare, who was not drag her, and the left her in a nearby field. Francis now becoming sick, she prayed before the eucharist and returned once again to cut the hair of Clare’s sister Agnes. after receiving assurances from God, turned to face the Clare and Agnes remained with the Benedictine Saracens who fled back over the walls of San Damiano sisters for some time, until Francis had completed the and left Assisi. rebuilding of the church of San Damiano and built a home Clare’s health continued to fail, and she passed for them there. While Francis left for a mission to the away in August of 1253, speaking the words “Blessed be Middle East in hopes of ending the crusades, other women You, O God, for having created me.” She was canonized began to join Clare. two years later in 1255 by Pope Alexander IV. Her feast As their group began to grow, Hugolino , who had day is August 11th, and she is the patron of eye disease, been appointed Cardinal Bishop of Ostria in 1206, wanted goldsmiths, laundry and television. Ten years after her to found an affiliation of women’s religious houses, and death, in 1263, the Poor Ladies of San Damiano were wished for San Damiano to become the first house of a became widely known as the Poor Clares. .