08/10/2026
🌻 Franciscan Vignette #17: August 11, Feast Day of St. Clare of Assisi 🌹
Chiara Offreduccio di Favarone was born into nobility on July 16, 1194, in Assisi, Italy. Moved by the preaching of St. Francis, she left the wealth of her family home at age 18 for the Porziuncola, the tiny chapel of the Franciscan friars. There, Francis cut her hair and provided a rough woolen habit for clothing, signaling her desire to live only for God. Francis became Clare’s lifelong friend and spiritual guide.
Clare was quickly followed into religious life by her sister Agnes and others. These “Poor Ladies,” later known as the “Poor Clares,” lived in poverty, prayer and seclusion, serving the sick and needy. The Church of San Damiano became their convent, the same place where the cross spoke to Francis to “repair my church.”
Many images of St. Clare illustrate the episode of how she repelled an attack from the invading Saracens by holding up the Blessed Sacrament at the door of the convent.
Another account relates how St. Clare, nearing the end of her life, fell too ill to attend Christmas Eve Mass at Midnight. She experienced a miraculous live viewing of the entire church service from her room, as if on a screen. This incident led to Pope Pius XII naming her the patroness of television in 1958, noting that television means, “Vision from afar.” She is also the patroness of those with eye diseases.
Clare survived Francis by nearly 27 years and carried on his legacy at San Damiano.
St. Clare died on August 11, 1253, at age 59, and was canonized by Pope Alexander IV on September 26, 1255.
- Submitted by Maryanne Hanisch, OFS -
