St. Clare of Assisi, Saint of the day for 11 August

(16 July 1194 - 11 August 1253)

History of St. Clare of Assisi
One of the sweetest films made about Francis of Assisi portrays Clare as a golden-haired beauty floating across sun-drenched fields, a kind of counterpart to a woman of the new Franciscan order.

The beginning of his religious life was indeed film material. Having refused to marry at 15, Clare was moved by Francis' dynamic preaching. He became her lifelong friend and spiritual guide.

At 18, Chiara ran away from her father's house one night, was welcomed on the street by friars carrying torches, and in the poor chapel called the Porziuncola she received a rough woolen dress, exchanging her jeweled belt for a common rope with knots , and sacrificed her long braids to Francis' scissors. He put her in a Benedictine convent, which her father and uncles immediately went wild. Clare clung to the church altar, tossed the veil aside to show her cut hair, and remained adamant.

Sixteen days later her sister Agnes joined her. Others came. They lived a simple life of great poverty, austerity and total isolation from the world, according to a Rule that Francis gave them as the Second Order. At the age of 21, Francis forced Clare out of obedience to accept the office of abbess, which she exercised until her death.

The Poor Ladies went barefoot, slept on the ground, ate no meat and observed almost complete silence. Later Clare, like Francis, convinced her sisters to moderate this rigor: "Our bodies are not made of brass". The main emphasis, of course, was on evangelical poverty. They did not own property, not even in common, supported by daily contributions. When the pope also tried to persuade Clare to mitigate this practice, she showed her characteristic firmness: "I need to be absolved of my sins, but I don't want to be absolved of the obligation to follow Jesus Christ."

Contemporary accounts shine with admiration for Clare's life in the convent of San Damiano in Assisi. He served the sick and washed the feet of the nuns who begged for alms. It came from prayer, she told herself, with her face so bright it dazzled those around her. He suffered from a serious illness for the last 27 years of his life. Her influence was such that popes, cardinals and bishops often came to consult her: Chiara herself never left the walls of San Damiano.

Francis has always remained his great friend and source of inspiration. Clare has always been obedient to her will and to the great ideal of evangelical life that she was realizing.

A well-known story is about her prayer and trust. Chiara had the Blessed Sacrament placed on the walls of the convent when it was attacked by the invasion of the Saracens. “Do you like, O God, to deliver into the hands of these beasts the defenseless children that I have fed with your love? I beg you, dear Lord, protect those who are now unable to protect “. To his sisters he said: “Do not be afraid. Trust in Jesus “. The Saracens fled.

Reflection
Clare's 41 years of religious life are scenarios of holiness: an indomitable determination to lead the simple and literal evangelical life as Francis taught her; courageous resistance to pressure always present to dilute the ideal; passion for poverty and humility; an ardent life of prayer; and a generous concern for his sisters.