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| Incorrupt body of Saint Clare of Assisi |
The beautiful life of poverty of Saint Clare of Assisi:
Birth: Saint Clare (born Chiara Offreduccio) was born on July 16, 1193. His father Favarone and his mother Ortolana were from a noble and very wealthy family. They owned a lot of property and lived in a big and luxurious house, but they were also Catholics and believed in God. When her mother was pregnant and prayed before a Crucifix in church for the child's birth, she heard a voice say, “Don't be afraid. You will give the world a light that will shine brighter than daylight. That's why the girl will be called Clare.” And Clare was born, a very pretty girl, with long blond hair. As a child, Clare loved to pray and listen attentively to all of her mother's Catholic teachings. She went to Holy Mass with great devotion and always prayed before the Crucifix, a devotion she will have for a lifetime. When Clare went out with the maids and little friends, she always took lots of coins, food and goodies from the house and gave it to the beggars and the poor with a beautiful smile that enchanted everyone.
Vocation: During adolescence, Clare always prayed a lot every day in her room, until long hours, and decided to consecrate her virginity to God and go to a convent. But her father was thinking of marrying her off to some rich young man from a noble family. She was very beautiful and many young people serenaded her in front of her house, but she never showed any interest in getting married. His love and trust in God grew more and more. From the windows of her house, Clare saw the many poor and beggars in Italy at that time. She did not accept having that rich life while many were still poor. The house was very big, a real castle full of servants. Underneath the expensive clothes and jewelry that the family forced her to wear, Clare put on belts with sharp edges and thorns and offered them as penance in honor of the Passion of Jesus. Clare's father let her follow the vocation, but he died. The uncles still though of a wedding for her.
Francis of Assisi: When Clare was 16 years old, the young Francis of Assisi was 28 years old. It was around this age that Francis was converted and began to preach in the city of Assisi about a life with more poverty and less luxury. Many thought he was exaggerated or crazy, but Clare didn't. She sensed that he was a young man of God and admired him. She came to Francis and said: "I want to live the same life, the same prayer and above all, the same poverty." She was drawn to leave her rich and luxurious home to live in the poverty and simplicity of a convent.
Escape from home: On Palm Sunday, March 19, 1212, at night, when everyone was asleep, Clare ran away from her home and was received with great joy by Francis and his brothers in the small church Porciuncula. Francis cut his long blond hair as a sign of consecration to God and gave him a thick cloth tunic tied with the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Clare went to live for a few days at the Benedictine monastery in the nearby town of Panzo. The uncles where enraged. They search her and finds her in the chapel. Clare was clinging to the foot of the Altar. They pulled her so hard and tore off her veil and saw her shaved head. They decided to leave her and thought that she would come home someday, which never happened. Agnes, the Clare's sister, 15 years old, also fled. When relatives try to take her by force, Clare prays and she becomes heavy that they can't carry her and decide to leave her.
Convent in San Damian: Clare went to the city of San Damian, near Assisi, to a poor house adjacent to the chapel. There it became her convent. Other young women arrived and became nuns. A few years later, also her sister Beatriz and her mother Ortolana after becoming a widow, all because of the teachings of Clare and Francis. They became known as “Poor Ladies”, now called “Poor Clare Nuns”. They were a comfort to the city. They attended the people and prayed for those who asked, giving words of comfort.
Humility and love: Clare was appointed abbess of the convent by Francis. Despite holding this position of superior in the convent for 40 years, she was like a mother of all sisters and extremely humble. Clare always helped herself to the table last. Every day, she always helped with the simplest tasks like sweeping, cleaning the floor, bathing the sick, making bandages, washing clothes, and everything else necessary. Clare was once washing the feet of a sick sister and this sister accidentally tapped Clare's nose with her foot. Clare didn't get angry, but she gave a beautiful smile. She always liked to go into every room to see if all the nuns were warmly dressed. She was always willing to give up her coat for those who needed it.
Poverty of the convent: The convent in which they lived was extremely simple and poor. Clare did not allow any luxury. They made towels and other objects, and received donations from people. Sometimes they received hard breads and old foods, but Clare always thanked God. Despite being poor, they always helped the poor who knocked on the convent door. Invite the poor and the marginalized. It was Clara's invitation. Throughout her life, miracles always happened with the bread, oil and other foods that yielded and inexplicably appeared at the time of distribution. A young woman told Clare that she had chests full of jewels and pearls. She said: “This is all fleeting. There is a Husband who loves you so much more. His name is Jesus Christ, who died for us on the Cross.”
Devotion to the Word of God: Clare confessed with much regret and tears. She received the Eucharist so fervently that her body seemed to tremble. She was full of delicacy, sweetness, calm and patience. All who knew her claimed to perceive in her a “heavenly peace”. She listened to all the priests and preachers of God's Word with extreme devotion, no matter who she was. Throughout her life, Clare was concerned with practicing the Word of God in every moment, in every second, in all the smallest and greatest acts.
Clare secures the Monstrance: In 1240, enemies invaded the city and placed ladders on the walls to invade Clare's convent. The sisters were terrified, but Clare prayed, took the Monstrance with the Consecrated Host and the stairs used by the enemies to invade the convent fell inexplicably and they fled.
Writings of Saint Clare of Assisi: She wrote: “Jesus is the bridge between the One who can do everything and the creatures who need everything. Be a bridge that connects those who have plenty to those who lack so much. Our fatigue here is brief. Eternal is the prize. Do not be misled by the rumors of the world that pass by like a shadow. Don't lose your mind with the empty images of the deceiving world. Cover your ears to the whistles of hell and, strong, break its assaults. Strive to acquire that perfection for which the Spirit of God has destined you. Entrust yourself to poor Christ. As He made Himself an object of contempt, so will you become an object of contempt in the eyes of the world to follow His example. Ignite your heart with the desire to imitate him. If you suffer with Him, with Him you will reign. If you cry with Him, you will rejoice with Him. If you die with Him on the Cross of the tribulation, you will find Him a heavenly mansion in the splendors of the Saints. And your name, glorious among men, will be inscribed in the Book of Life. Don't let bitterness and discouragement envelop you.”
Miracles: Clare gave the entire huge fortune of her father's inheritance to the poor. She kept nothing for herself or even for the convent. She prayed with such union with God that sometimes the sisters saw a light near her. On another occasion, Sister Agnes saw the Child Jesus in Clare's lap. Another day, Sister Francisca saw the Child Jesus resting his head on Clare's shoulders. A demon-possessed woman said, "The prayers of this saint burn us." Francis died at the age of 44, when Clare was 32, and she accepted his Canonization.
Diseases and crosses: Clare lived until the age of 60, always with many illnesses, but enduring everything with patience and uniting with her illnesses to the Crucified One. Once, when she was bedridden and unable to go to Mass, she saw all Holy Mass on the wall and described it to her sisters, which is why she is the Patron of television. At the end of life, she was extremely weak and suffered a lot before she died. Saint Clare passed away on August 11, 1253. She gave the sisters the last advices especially for the life of poverty and to pray in honor of the Wounds of Jesus. Sister Benvinda had a vision of Our Lady and many Saints and Angels entering the room where Saint Clare died.
Canonization: Saint Clare of Assisi was canonized in 1255, just 2 years after her death, as her brother Francis. Her body is found incorrupt (Photo) to this day. Many convents of the Poor Clare Nuns were founded all over the world and still radiate his light and holiness today. The sister of Saint Clare, Agnes, helped found other convents. She died a few months after Clare and was canonized like her, today Saint Agnes of Assisi.
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