Clare of Assisi, virgin (1193–1253)

Biography

Thus it was St. Clare who, better than anyone and almost as well as him, realized the ideal of Saint Francis of Assisi. She was born in Assisi in 1194. She was the daughter of the noble Offreduccio family. The Order of the "poor ladies" or Poor Clares was founded on the night of Palm Sunday in 1212, when Clare, having escaped from her paternal palace with her cousin, met Francis in the Porciúcula. After having cut their hair, he covered them with a sackcloth and they received their religious profession, thus giving birth to that community that would quickly spread throughout Europe. Francisco and Clara complemented each other in beautiful harmony. They loved each other with freedom of heart. Between them there existed the most beautiful moral union that can be imagined. Francisco was impressionable and sometimes became depressed. So Clara, because of her serenity and feminine strength, was like a refuge of security for Francisco. Francisco was the inspiration for Clara and launched her into the adventure. But Clara sometimes had to confirm Francisco in his ideal. A faithful disciple and like an invincible mother, she comforts him. Francisco beat him in sweetness, Clara in firmness. Clara, like Francis, "brought a new spring into the world" and married Lady Poverty. He was a model of courtesy, of Easter joy, of brotherhood. He was a soul of prayer. He looked at himself in the divine Mirror and advised his daughters to do so. He felt great love for the Passion of the Lord, for the Eucharist, for the Virgin. Clara was an imprint of the Mother of God. Christ renewed his life and his passion in Francis. Mary renewed her humility and purity in Clare. At Easter 1253 she fell ill. Pope Innocent IV visits her, passing through Assisi. She writes in her will: "ALWAYS BE IN LOVE WITH GOD." And his last words: "THANK YOU, LORD, FOR HAVING CREATED ME." He died in the early morning of August 11, 1253. Pope Innocent IV presided over the funeral. Her successor Alexander IV canonizes her. Pope Pius