Clare of Assisi was an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Francis of Assisi. She founded the Order of Poor Ladies, a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition, and wrote their Rule of Life. Following her death, the order she founded was renamed in her honour as the Order of Saint Clare, commonly referred to today as the Poor Clares (Clarissines).
Having refused to marry at 15, Clare was moved by the dynamic preaching of Francis. She left her father’s home and went to meet with Francis. While there, Clare’s hair was cut off and she was given a plain robe and veil in exchange for her rich gown. On March 18, 1212, Francis received her vows, and thus began the Second Order of St. Francis. They lived a simple life of great poverty, austerity, and complete seclusion from the world. The Poor Ladies went barefoot, slept on the ground, ate no meat, and observed almost complete silence. Yet, they were very happy, because Our Lord was close to them all the time. In 1224, an army of rough soldiers from Frederick II came to attack Assisi. Although very sick, Clare went out to meet them with the Blessed Sacrament on her hands. Then on her knees, she begged God to save the Sisters. A voice seemed to answer: “I will keep them always in My care.” In that moment, a sudden fright struck the attackers and they fled as fast as they could without harming anyone in Assisi.
She was canonized in1255, by Pope Alexander IV. St. Clare was designated as the patron saint of television in 1958 by Pope Pius XII, because when St. Clare was very ill, she could not attend mass and was reportedly able to see and hear it on the wall in her room. She is also the patroness of eye disease, goldsmiths, and laundry.
0811 St Clare of Assisi Powerful Prayer to Saint Clare of Assisi
O glorious Saint Clare!
God has given you the power of working miracles continually,
and the favor of answering the prayers of those who invoke your assistance in misfortune, anxiety, and distress;
we beseech you, obtain for us from Jesus, through Mary, His Blessed Mother,
what we beg of you so fervently and hopefully,
if it be for the greater honor and glory of God and for the good of our souls. Amen.
Saint Clare of Assisi, Pray For Us
POWERFUL PRAYER TO SAINT CLARE OF ASSISI
O Blessed Saint Clare, your life shines like a beacon and cast its light down the ages of the Church to guide the way of Christ.
Look with compassion on the poor and humble who call on you for help. As you bow before your Eucharistic Lord in Heaven, speak to Him of my afflicted body and my broken spirit. Ask Him to heal me and to wash away my sins in His precious Blood.
Great Servant of Christ, remember the needs of my family and all those I pray for. Defend us from everything that would threaten our Holy Catholic faith.
Hear the cry of the poor and make it a song of intercession, rising from your poor heart to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, our Healer, our Savior, and our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer
I look up and I behold the Lord,
Clare says to me, “Gaze upon Him, consider Him, contemplate Him,
I put this more simply:
behold, hold, enfold.
I behold the Lord
I see His outstretched hands
I see the blood from His wounds.
I see the love in the eyes of Jesus.
I see His gracious acceptance of me.
Jesus has come out of the tomb –
He still has the scars, but now they are glorious, with the glory of heaven.
Still looking at the Lord, I reach out and touch Him.
I hold the Lord – and I am held in His love.
Love enfolds
It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me.
I am secure in the Lord.
I can look out, now, through the Lord’s eyes.
I can see the world as He created it, in His mercy,
I can see my sisters and brothers with His love,
and I can worship the Father through the eyes of the Son
in the Love of the Holy Spirit.
