St. Clare of Assisi

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St. Clare of Assisi (1194-1253) was a friend and follower of St. Francis who started one of the first Franciscan religious communities for women. Inspired by his preaching, she left home to join a convent. Later, Clare joined Francis in Assisi, where she became abbess of a new community using Francis’ rule of life as their own. She spent her whole adult life in Assisi, where she was well-known for her wisdom and her community’s zeal for helping the poor. 

It is said that she was once able to view a Christmas Mass that she had very much wanted to attend while ill, through a vision that she was given. This led her to be named the patroness of television! 

Her desire to follow Francis’ vow of poverty—whereby the nuns would have no personal property and live entirely through charity—put her at odds with the popes of her time, and she had to fight long and hard to keep that aspect of her new order’s rule in place. It seems she held on to life until she knew it would be secured, because she passed away just two days after the rule’s approval. There are still many Sisters today that follow in her footsteps, now called the Poor Clares. 

St. Clare is often pictured with a lamp, which also resembles a monstrance, to represent her devotion to the Eucharist and the bright light she shines for all of us, especially appropriate because her name means “bright.”  

Prayer for your Table

Menu Suggestions

At your table, you may want to serve Rocciati, a delicious dessert for which Clare’s hometown of Assisi is known.  

If it’s too hot to bake, or you need a simpler option, you could also include some sliced cheese traditional to the Umbrian region (where Assisi is located) in your dinner spread. Pecorino is available in many grocery stores and pairs wonderfully with grapes or apple or pear. Parmesan can be a similarly salty substitute, in a pinch.