St. Clare: A Woman Distinctive for Her Time and Ours

By Sister Deborah Fumagalli. Edited by Marilyn Gorun.

What you hold, may you always hold. What you do, may you always do and never abandon. … the Spirit of God has called you. (Blessing of St. Clare)

The stained-glass window of Clare illuminates the space with the brilliance of multicolored light emanating through darkness. True to her name, “Chiara,” meaning light in Italian, enlightens both her world and ours with the witness of her life that transcends time.

The 13th century in the region of Assisi brought social and political tension. There were great divides with economic disparity between great wealth and extreme poverty, and the violence of the Crusades and other wars contrasted with chivalry’s gallantry and courage.

Clare Offreduccio (1193–1253) came from a privileged family of nobility and was prepared for a life of generosity and service. As a young woman she frequently heard the preaching of Francis Bernardone (1181–1226), and Clare was moved by his love for the Gospel message. So inspired, she rejected her family’s status and plan for her life and founded her own community, the “Poor Ladies,” becoming the first woman to formulate a rule for religious women. Clare generated a spirit of unity among her sisters through a common commitment to the Gospel.

Why was Clare so determined to live a life of poverty?

Clare, like Francis, did not choose poverty for philosophical reasons, nor for practical ones, as a choice making her life more productive or efficient. And neither of them speak about this poverty as a response to the affluence of Church or society in their day, though it was undoubtedly seen by others in that way. The focus of their attention was God’s overwhelming generosity and love, expressed in the free choice of the Son who embraced poverty in becoming a creature. The two disciples from Assisi embraced poverty because it was embraced by their Beloved.” (William J. Short OFM, Poverty and Joy: The Franciscan Tradition)

Today we acknowledge Clare as the co-founder of the Franciscan movement and Francis’ most faithful follower. Her life embodies devotion to God, kindness, strength, and love for the women who were cloistered with her in the premises of the church of San Damiano. She offers us a clear example of how women with a Divine calling could fashion their path. For a woman of her time, Clare, an exemplary servant leader, took unprecedented steps to maintain her vision of poverty so that nothing distracted the “Poor Ladies” on their journey to glorify God.

Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for He who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me. (St. Clare)

Image: On the south wall of the Adoration Chapel in St. Joseph Chapel