Clare of Assisi

Clare of Assisi ( * 1193 or 1194 in Assisi, Umbria, central Italy, † August 11, 1253 San Damiano, Assisi ) was the founder of the contemplative order of the Poor Clares.

Life

Klara (Italian: Chiara ) was the daughter of the nobleman Favarone Offreduccio di di Bernadino in 1193 or 1194. Through the example of Saint Francis, she had in the cathedral of Assisi hear preach, influenced, she left on the night of Palm Sunday, 1212 her wealthy, aristocratic parents house and put in the little church of the Portiuncula the vows of life according to the evangelical counsels from. Francis, she has served " with a poor garb " and cut her hair off.

Klara he dedicated himself to following Christ in a radical poverty. Francis brought initially at Benedictine. Her sister, the Saint Agnes of Assisi, their example was followed by only sixteen days later. After Francis had the chapel of San Damiano restored and there created a property, settled Clare and her sister over to where other women soon joined them, including other sisters, girlfriends, her aunt and her widowed mother.

Clara's courage and trust in God have many of their contemporaries impressed. So she joined a raid of the Saracens in 1240 this counter with the monstrance. The same thing happened when Assisi was besieged a year later by the imperial army. Your Holy iconographic attribute is therefore the monstrance, sometimes the cup.

Until her death, Klara remained in the cloister of the monastery of San Damiano and lived after her 1216-1217 written rule of the order, which was in her words, is " simply the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to be observed ". Until her death, she fought for the church recognition of this form of life to the "privilege of poverty". The Pope took the view that written by Klara rule is too strict and therefore not observed. The recognition of the Rule Pope Innocent IV granted her only on her deathbed. The bull Solet annuere from August 9, 1253 Klara was delivered on August 10, August 11, Clare died.

Importance

The rule of the order of the Poor Clares was the first monastic rule of history that had written a woman for women. The rule is surprisingly democratic for its time - it particularly emphasizes the personal responsibility of each sister. Many women across Europe felt it addressed, joined the Poor Clares founded or even Klarissenkonvente, including Agnes of Prague. The Poor Clares are in addition to the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of the largest women's order of the Catholic Church.

Two years after her death, on August 15, 1255 she was canonized by Alexander IV. Because of her visions she was born on 17 February 1958 by Pope Pius XII. explained in an Apostolic Letter to the patron saint of television.

The Memorial of St. Clare in the Catholic and the Anglican Church and Protestant denominations in some is August 11.

The Cologne Clare altar is dedicated to her.