Facts
Feastday: August 11
Patron of sore eyes
Clare was a beautiful Italian noblewoman who became the Foundress of an order
of nuns now called "Poor Clares." When she heard St.
Francis of Assisi
preach, her heart burned with a great desire to imitate Francis and to live a
poor humble life
for Jesus. So one evening, she ran away from home, and in a little chapel outside Assisi, gave herself to God. St. Francis cut off her hair and gave her a rough brown habit to wear, tied with a plain cord around her
waist. Her parents
tried in every way to make her return home, but Clare would not.
Soon her sister, St. Agnes joined her, as well as other young
women who wanted to be brides of Jesus, and live without any money. St. Clare and her sisters wore no shoes, ate no
meat, lived in a poor house, and kept silent most of the time. Yet they were
very happy, because Our Lord was close to them all the time. Once, He
saved them from a great danger in answer to St. Clare's prayer. An army of rough
soldiers came to attack Assisi and they planned to raid the convent first. Although very sick, St. Clare had herself carried to the wall and right
there, where the enemies could see it, she had the Blessed Sacrament placed.
Then on her knees, she begged God to save the Sisters.
"O Lord, protect these Sisters whom I cannot protect now," she prayed. A
voice seemed to answer: "I will keep them always in My care." At the same time
a sudden fright struck the attackers and they fled as fast as they could. St. Clare was sick and suffered great pains for
many years, but she said that no pain could trouble her. So great was her joy in
serving the Lord
that she once exclaimed: "They say that we are too poor, but can a heart which
possesses the infinite God be truly called poor?" We should remember
this miracle of the Blessed Sacrament when in Church.
Then we will
pray with great Faith
to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist: "Save me, O Lord,
from every evil
- of soul and body." Her feast day is August 11.
Feastday: August 11
Patron of sore eyes
Clare was a beautiful Italian noblewoman who became the Foundress of an order
of nuns now called "Poor Clares." When she heard St.
Francis of Assisi
preach, her heart burned with a great desire to imitate Francis and to live a
poor humble life
for Jesus. So one evening, she ran away from home, and in a little chapel outside Assisi, gave herself to God. St. Francis cut off her hair and gave her a rough brown habit to wear, tied with a plain cord around her
waist. Her parents
tried in every way to make her return home, but Clare would not.
Soon her sister, St. Agnes joined her, as well as other young
women who wanted to be brides of Jesus, and live without any money. St. Clare and her sisters wore no shoes, ate no
meat, lived in a poor house, and kept silent most of the time. Yet they were
very happy, because Our Lord was close to them all the time. Once, He
saved them from a great danger in answer to St. Clare's prayer. An army of rough
soldiers came to attack Assisi and they planned to raid the convent first. Although very sick, St. Clare had herself carried to the wall and right
there, where the enemies could see it, she had the Blessed Sacrament placed.
Then on her knees, she begged God to save the Sisters.
"O Lord, protect these Sisters whom I cannot protect now," she prayed. A
voice seemed to answer: "I will keep them always in My care." At the same time
a sudden fright struck the attackers and they fled as fast as they could. St. Clare was sick and suffered great pains for
many years, but she said that no pain could trouble her. So great was her joy in
serving the Lord
that she once exclaimed: "They say that we are too poor, but can a heart which
possesses the infinite God be truly called poor?" We should remember
this miracle of the Blessed Sacrament when in Church.
Then we will
pray with great Faith
to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist: "Save me, O Lord,
from every evil
- of soul and body." Her feast day is August 11.