St. Clare of Assisi is one of the most beloved saints of the Middle Ages. Best known as the founder of the Poor Clares and a close friend of St. Francis of Assisi, Clare’s life was marked by radical trust in God, profound Eucharistic devotion and remarkable courage.
As the Church continues to celebrate her during the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, here are six things you might not know about the woman whose witness continues to inspire:
She came from a wealthy family — but left it all behind.
Clare was born in Assisi, Italy, on July 16, 1194, into one of the city’s most prominent noble families. She enjoyed a privileged upbringing and was expected to marry into another wealthy household.
Instead, after hearing the future St. Francis of Assisi preach about living the Gospel with radical simplicity, Clare felt called to dedicate her life entirely to Christ. At age 18, she secretly left her family home on Palm Sunday night in 1212 to begin a new life of poverty.
Her family attempted to bring her home by force, but Clare firmly refused and cut off her hair as a sign that she belonged to God alone.
She founded the Poor Clares.
With Francis’ guidance, Clare established a community of women in 1212 at the Church of San Damiano outside Assisi that would become known as the Poor Clares. They are a contemplative order of women who live a cloistered life centered on prayer, the Eucharist and community life.
She eventually became abbess and led the monastery for more than 40 years.
She was the first woman to write a rule for a religious order that received papal approval.
One of St. Clare’s most significant contributions to the Church was authoring the Rule for the Poor Clares. While many women’s religious communities of the time followed rules adapted from existing monastic traditions, Clare carefully composed a rule that reflected the Franciscan ideal while providing practical guidance for the sisters’ communal life, prayer and governance.
On Aug. 9, 1253, Pope Innocent IV formally approved her rule – the first woman in Church history to receive papal approval.
The rule remains the foundation of Poor Clare communities and stands as a lasting testament to Clare’s spiritual leadership and unwavering commitment to the Franciscan vision.
She had an extraordinary devotion to the Eucharist.
Perhaps no aspect of Clare’s spirituality stands out more than her love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. She spent countless hours in prayer before the Eucharist and encouraged her sisters to center their lives on Christ’s real presence.
This Eucharistic devotion became especially evident during one of the most famous events of her life.
One of the best-known stories about Clare occurred when invading Saracen mercenaries threatened the convent of San Damiano. Although seriously ill, Clare asked that the Blessed Sacrament be brought to her.
Holding the monstrance before the attackers, she prayed for God’s protection, and the invaders fled.
She is the patron saint of television.
Near the end of Clare’s life, illness prevented her from attending Mass. According to tradition, in 1252 she was miraculously able to see and hear the celebration of the Christmas midnight Mass on the wall of her room in the convent. Because of this extraordinary supernatural event, Pope Pius XII declared her the patron saint of television in 1958.
She and St. Francis shared one of the Church’s most remarkable friendships.
The friendship between St. Clare and St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most enduring examples of holy companionship. Francis entrusted Clare with establishing and leading the community at San Damiano, while Clare remained a steadfast guardian of the Franciscan charism, especially after Francis’ death in 1226.
Despite living separate vocations, the two maintained a deep spiritual bond rooted in prayer, humility and service to the Gospel.
More than eight centuries later, their example continues to inspire men and women to support one another in faithfully responding to God’s call.
The Church celebrated her feast day on Aug. 11.
— OSV News
A prayer for healing
O Blessed Saint Clare,
your life shines like a beacon
and casts its light down the ages of the Church
to guide the way of Christ.
Look with compassion on the poor and humble
who call on you for help.
As you bow before your Eucharistic Lord in Heaven,
speak to Him of my afflicted body and my broken spirit.
Ask Him to heal me and to wash away my sins
in His precious Blood.
Great Servant of Christ,
remember the needs of my family
and all those I pray for.
Defend us from everything
that would threaten our Holy Catholic faith.
Hear the cry of the poor
and make it a song of intercession,
rising from your poor heart
to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, our Healer,
our Savior, and our Lord. Amen.
— Monasterio De Santa Clara