St. Clare
Founding her own community of "poor ladies" in the church of
San Damiano, St. Clare was the first woman to write her own rule of life for
religious women.
St. Clare of Assisi
(1193-1253)
Born to one of the most noble and influential
families in Assisi, Chiara Offreduccio di Favarone was prepared by her mother
for a life of generosity and service. Her father wanted his beautiful daughter
to marry well.
As a teenager whose home adjoined the public
square of the Cathedral of San Rufino in Assisi, Clare often heard Francis, the
young radical preacher, greet his listeners with "peace and good" in
the name of Jesus and learned of his devotion to the lepers on the outskirts of
the city. Moved by her love for God and attracted to Francis' love for the
Gospel message, she left home -- much to the dismay of her father -- to
secretly join Francis in a life of prayer and service.
Founding her own community of "poor
ladies" in the church of San Damiano, Clare was the first woman to write
her own rule of life for religious women. This rule guaranteed her and her
Sisters the "privilege of poverty," the right never to own anything
of their own. She steadfastly clung to this principle and won papal
approval for the rule, despite many misgivings from church
authorities.
Clare's life served as a model of feminine
leadership. As abbess, she considered herself not above her Sisters but an
equal among them, listening to them and including them in decision-making. She
maintained a calm demeanor, was a spiritual teacher, a healer and a woman
who was fearless in the face of external threats to Assisi and to her cloister.
She was also a mentor to her Franciscan male
counterparts in the resolution of their conflicts. And she once advised a weary
Francis, who was considering giving up preaching for a life of solitude and
prayer, to continue in service of others. When Francis was near death, she
arranged a place for him in an olive grove near San Damiano, a
spot from which he wrote his famous "Canticle of the Creatures."
Completely devoted to the ideals of Francis,
Clare is remembered as Francis' most faithful follower and co-founder of the
Franciscan movement. Therefore, we look to both Francis and Clare to teach us
Franciscan values.
When Cardinal Stritch University gathers for
official functions, the Clare Candle is lighted, reminding the community of
Clare's role in the University as light, guide, and exemplar of Franciscan
values.
Quotations of St. Clare of Assisi
"What you hold, may you always hold,
What you do, may you always do and never abandon.
But with swift pace, light step,
unswerving feet,
so that even your steps stir up no dust,
may you go forward
securely, joyfully, and swiftly,
on the path of prudent happiness,
not believing anything
that would dissuade you from this resolution
or that would place a stumbling block for you on the way,
so that you may offer your vows to the Most High
in the pursuit of that perfection
to which the Spirit of the Lord has called you."
--
Second Letter to Agnes (11-14)
"O most noble Queen,
gaze upon Him,
consider Him,
contemplate Him,
as you desire to imitate Him." --
Second Letter to Agnes (20)
"I beg you, therefore, dearly beloved, to
refrain wisely and prudently from an indiscreet and impossible austerity in the
fasting that you have undertaken. And I beg you in the Lord to praise the Lord
by your very life, to offer the Lord your reasonable service and your sacrifice
always seasoned with salt." --
Third Letter to Agnes (40-41)