Clare of Assisi

Clare of Assisi (c. 1194–1253) was an Italian religious leader who founded the Order of Poor Ladies, later known as the Poor Clares. She shaped its rule and was canonized in 1255.

Francis of Assisi: Francis of Assisi (c. 1181–1226) was an Italian friar who founded the Order of Friars Minor and inspired a movement of evangelical poverty. His example of poverty and religious life helped shape Clare’s vocation and community.
Order of Poor Ladies: The Order of Poor Ladies was a women’s religious community founded by Clare of Assisi at San Damiano. This was the community Clare organized and governed.
Assisi: Assisi is a hill town in Umbria, Italy, known as the birthplace of Francis and Clare of Assisi. Its churches, families, and civic life formed the setting for Clare’s early years.
Canonization: Canonization is the formal declaration by the Catholic Church that a deceased person is a saint. Clare’s canonization in 1255 formally recognized her sanctity two years after her death.
Basilica of Saint Clare: The Basilica of Saint Clare is a Gothic church in Assisi built to house Clare’s remains. Its construction after her death turned her burial place into a major center of devotion.
Agnes of Assisi: Agnes of Assisi (c. 1197–1253) was Clare’s sister and a leading early member of the Poor Ladies. She joined Clare’s community and helped establish its houses beyond Assisi.
Rule of Saint Clare: The Rule of Saint Clare is the religious rule Clare composed for the community at San Damiano. It records Clare’s vision of communal life and strict poverty.
Franciscan movement: The Franciscan movement is a Christian religious movement inspired by Francis of Assisi and shaped by poverty and itinerant preaching. Clare’s foundation emerged alongside this movement and adapted its ideals for women.
Clare's Letters to Agnes of Prague: Clare’s letters to Agnes of Prague are writings of spiritual counsel sent to a Bohemian princess who became a Poor Clare abbess. They preserve Clare’s voice on poverty, devotion, and the life she wanted her order to embody.
San Damiano Cross: The San Damiano Cross is a large painted crucifix in the church of San Damiano, traditionally associated with Francis of Assisi. The cross is linked to the religious setting in which Clare’s community took root.

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