St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi
Childhood and Lifelong Friends
Both St. Clare and St. Francis were considered saints of profound sanctity. But ironically, it was St. Clare who probably led St. Francis of Assisi to his vocation even though once he found his way she followed him tirelessly.
St. Clare of Assisi was a Woman of Compassion
As children, Francesco and Clare both came from wealthy families, played together and grew up together. Early in their youth, Francesco marveled at watching Clare wander off into the woods. He would follow her to find that she was going to the leper colony to tend to the wounds of those living there. At the time, this disgusted St. Francis. He coulnd’t stomach the idea of doing such a thing, but he continued to watch her go nonetheless.
St. Francis Comes Back from War
When the war came and Francesco was presumed dead, Clare mourned the loss of her very special friend. But at the time of his return from the dead, and after he had come through all the medical recoveries which needed to happen before he could again romp through the wilderness, he again followed her as she headed for her ritual care of the sick. But he began to find a yearning to help her, join her and he began to see the lepers in a new light. It was Clare who brought this charity to St. Francis’s heart, but St. Francis would soon repay the favor.
St. Clare Becomes a Nun
Coming from a wealthy family, Clare’s father wished her to marry into a good family and live a good life. But this was not her internal desire, for she, too, wished to give her life to God the way St. Francis of Assisi had done. She had to run away from home to attend the Masses held at the restored San Damiano Church, and in the end, St. Francis accepted her into his order, cut her hair and then personally – along with several brothers – escorted her to a convent to become a nun.
When her father caught up with them, he was angry. To this St. Francis replied, “Could you possibly wish your daughter a better bridegroom than Christ?” She had become a bride of Christ. And years later, she would found the Poor Clares which were the sister order of the Franciscans who embraced the simple life of poverty as did the monks who followed St. Francis.
St. Francis and St. Clare were Eternal Friends and Both Profound Miracle Workers
St. Francis of Assisi was not alone in being a miracle worker. St. Clare is known for being behind innumerable miracles herself, and was spoken of very highly by her fellow sisters. She never complained of any of the austerities they had chosen, and embraced it with the same zeal as St. Francis.
A miracle is said of St. Clare that when marauding troops came to invade the monastery, she went into the chapel and took hold of the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament. Displaying it high above her head to the invading soldiers, they immediately retreated and never bothered them again.
St. Francis preceded St. Clare in death but throughout their lives they maintained their very close and profound spiritual love for one another despite only seeing one another rarely.
St. Francis Embraces Asceticism
Sources: Saint Francis – A Film by Michele Soavi, Francis of Assisi Complete Writings in Three Volumes, The Saint, The Founder, The Prophet – Compiled by Regis Armstrong, O.F.M. Cap., J. A. Wayne Hellmann, O.F.M. Conv., William J. Short, O.F.M., The Little Flowers of St. Francis – By Raphael Brown, Saint Francis of Assisi – By Thomas of Celano, God’s Fool: The Life and Times of St. Francis of Assisi, By Julien Green, Clare of Assisi, The Lady – Translation by Regis J. Armstrong, O.F.M. Cap., Francis and Clare: The Complete Works, Tranlsation by Regis J. Armstrong, O.F.M. Cap., and Ignatius C. Brady, O.F.M., Clare of Assisi: Her Spirituality Revealed in her Letters – By Claire Marie Ledoux
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