Saint Clare

Clare was born into a rich and important family in Italy; her parents had many plans for her life.  When Clare met St. Francis and heard him preach the Good News, she felt a burning in her heart to give her whole life to Jesus, just as Francis had done.  Her parents did not want to her to join a convent, so one day she ran away from home and met Francis in a Chapel just outside of Assisi where Francis and his Brothers were living.  There Clare gave her whole life to Jesus and she gave up all the riches and comforts of her rich life.  She started the order of Sisters called the Poor Clares, who follow the example of St. Francis of Assisi.  Clare’s sister Agnes joined her and so did many other women who wanted to live their life for Jesus.  The lived a very poor and simple life.  They did not have any extra things in life, only what they really needed to live and they spent their days in prayer and quiet.  The Sisters of the Poor Clares continue to live this way of life even today.  Clare became very sick and suffered for many years, but nothing ever took away her joy of being the Bride of Christ and giving her life fully to God.  When people would say that her and her Sisters were living too poor or a life, she would tell them that they could never be poor as long as they had God in their hearts.