Feastday St. Claire: August the 11th
When did St. Claire live: 1194 - 1253
Biography of St. Claire:
St. Claire, foundress of the order of nuns called "Poor Clares", was born in 1194 into the rich and noble family Offreducci. St. Claire had the desire to imitate St. Francis of Assisi, so one evening she ran away from home to meet St. Francis in a little chapel outside Assisi. St. Francis cut off her hair, gave her a cowl to wear and brought her in a convent in Bastia Umbra. Then, together with some friends, she moved into a little convent near to San Damiano arranged by St. Francis. Her parents tried to make her return home, but all efforts were in vain. St. Claire became abbess of the small community in 1215. St. Claire and her nuns lived in a poor house, ate no meat, wore no shoes and kept silent most of the time. When an army of rough soldiers came to attack Assisi and raided the convent, St. Claire exhibited the ostensory and as the enemies saw it they fled as fast as they could.
Statues and sculptures of St. Claire - portrayal, imagery and emblem: The sculpture represents St. Claire dressed with the cowl of the Order of Saint Clare and the monstrance.
Patronage St. Claire: Patron of sore eyes and the blind