St. Clare of Assisi

Saint Clare of Assisi, born Chiara Offreduccio, (July 16, 1194 – August 11, 1253) was one of the first followers of Francis of Assisi and founded the Order of Poor Ladies to organize the women who chose to take the Franciscan vow of poverty and celibacy.

Clare was born in Assisi, Italy in 1194 as the eldest daughter of Favorino Scifi, Count of Sasso-Rosso. In 1210, Clare heard Francis preaching in the streets of Assisi about his new mendicant order (then newly-approved by Pope Innocent III) and was moved by his words. On March 20, 1212, Clare and her sister Agnes fled their home to follow Francis: she and her sister cut their hair short and put on rough tunics to indicate their acceptance of the vows of poverty and celibacy, and stayed with a nearby convent of Benedictine nuns until moving to San Damiano, where Clare and Agnes founded the Order of Poor Ladies (also then known as the Order of San Damiano).