Saint Clare of Assisi was born Chiara Offreduccio on July 16th, 1194. She was inspired and became one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. Having been inspired by Francis, she founded the Order of the Poor Ladies, a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition. This order followed a rule of strict poverty.
Saint Clare wrote the Rule of Life for her order, it was the first set of monastic guidelines to be written by a woman. After her death, the order was renamed “Order of Saint Clare” in her honor. The order now goes by the common name of “The Poor Clares”. Clare had great love and devotion to Christ and God; her faith in the “Blessed Sacrament and Eucharist are one of the things she is known for. It is said that when the convent was about to be attacked by the Saracen army, she prayed God, then she ordered the Blessed Sacrament to be placed on the battlements. A Miracle occurred and the armies dispersed without an attack.
The stained glass in our church depicts her with the Ciborium in an Italian countryside. She is often associated with the Eucharist.
Saint Clare died at the age of 59 on 11th, August 1253. She was canonized by Pope Alexander IV on 26th, September 1255. Her feast day was established as 12th August.
There are many churches, schools, hospitals, and towns named after her.
In 1977 Mission Santa Clara was founded by the Spanish Missionaries. It has given its name to the City, University and valley where it sits and it is the heart of our Silicon Valley.
Recommendation: Watch videos on Saint Clare and Saint Francis on Formed (Formed.org). Select our Parish (Saint Joseph Catholic Community).
Read the following webpage and accompanying citations