Franciscan Week
Who was St. Clare of Assisi?
By Alexandria Egler
The founder of the “Poor Clares,” didn’t start off life that way. Chiara ‘Clare’ Offreduccio was born in 119 3
to Assisi nobility. At a young age, however, she aspired to a loftier calling than the luxurious one into which
she had been born.
H
er transformation began after she most
with a hierarchy that tried to impose rules
Scholar Paul Moses discussed his book The
likely had heard a young St. Francis
similar to other monastic orders that were at
Saint and the Sultan, about St. Francis’ historical
preaching throughout the city of Assisi.
odds with Francis’ austere and strict reliance
meeting during the Crusades with Sultan Malik
His words encouraged her to follow him to
on alms and a life of poverty.
al-Kamil of Egypt. A question and answer
session was moderated by Ghazala Afzal, ESL
the mendicant lifestyle. Clare fled from her
Clare, however, worked tirelessly to change
and Remediation Coordinator.
family and comfortable home to join Francis
the rules with a formidable and impressive
and the friars.
letter-writing campaign. She recruited other
She traded her fine clothing for coarse woolen
abbesses throughout Europe and sent letters
garments with a rope as a belt. She cut her
to church authorities including the Pope.
hair as a symbol of her religious commitment.
All of this was done while she labored alongside
Francis took her to a nearby Benedictine
her sisters at San Damiano and suffered from
monastery where she hid from her family.
poor health.
(Days after Clare took her vows, she was joined
She was victorious. Two days prior to Clare’s
Director of Campus Ministry Fr. Brian Jordan with
by her sister Agnes, who later was canonized
death, Pope Innocent IV approved her rules as
Maryam Alam ’16 who spoke on behalf of the
Muslim Student Association and Paul Moses.
as well.) Ultimately, her father and uncles
the rules for the “Order of Poor Ladies.”
discovered their hiding place but were unable
Clare and Francis remained staunch and
to convince or force the girls to return home.
loving friends until his death in 1226. They did not have a physical or
Clare and Agnes moved to a house of religious women, which
sexual relationship, rather, the love they had for one another was a
eventually established themselves at San Damiano, the church that
manifestation of the deep and abiding shared love they had for God.
Francis had rebuilt. (There, they were joined by the girls’ mother and
No doubt if Facebook existed in the 12th century their relationship
another sister, Beatrice.)
status would likely have been “It’s Complicated.”
The women of this order lived a humble and austere life, their days
At age 59, Clare died on Aug. 11, 125 3. Three years later, Pope
revolving around prayer and penitence, manual labor and charity while
Alexander IV canonized her, and in 126 3, Pope Urban IV officially
serving as comfort and inspiration to the people of Assisi. The power
changed the name of the order to the “Order of St. Clare.” Unofficially,
of their presence was credited for saving Assisi from invaders on more
they are referred to as the Poor Clares.
than one occasion.
Clare and Francis lived the Gospel message of Jesus. They focused
While Clare deliberately chose to live a quiet, contemplative life,
on the poor, they focused on the moment, and they exhibited a care for
it should not be mistaken for a passive one. She strove to imitate and
creation and the earth all the while loving others with humility and joy.
incorporate the values and lifestyle of Francis on a personal and comTogether they ignited a movement that celebrated and embraced women
munity level. She became Abbess at San Damiano in 1216 and struggled
and men in a manner that, until then, was sorely missing in the church.
Learn more about St. Clare and St. Francis on the SFC website at sfc.edu/clareandfrancis ●
The week was tied
together with an exhibition featuring
Franciscan images as well as
pictures of Assisi and the surrounding area. Posters depicting famous
Franciscans through the years were
also sprinkled around campus.
B O T T O M - L E F T:
A bird and dog were among
the dozens of animals who came for
the first annual Blessing of the
Animals at St. Francis. Fr. Brian
Jordan was joined by Rev. Edward
Doran of St. Charles Borromeo
Church for the event.
BELOW:
6 | S T. FR A NC I S COL L EGE T ERR IER | W IN T ER 2013-2014
Assistant Director of Student Activities Ruben Gonzalez
’04 with students putting together bags for the Blessing of the
Animals and for Halloween. B A C K R O W : Marko Dzigurski ’14,
Bryan Bornschein ’17, Maximillien Prophile ’17, Aaron Amoros
’18, Vinod Maharaj ’16. F R O N T R O W : Michelle Gubitosi ’18,
Victoria Lantieri ’16, Joanna Garcia ’16, Diamond Holmes ’14.
ABOVE: