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Our Patron Saints
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI has long been one
of the most popular saints in the Church and has
enjoyed a widespread cult even among
nonbelievers. He was born in Assisi, Italy in
1181, the son of Pietro and Pica di Bernardone.
His father was a member of the new merchant
class and made money in the textile trade. As a
youth Francis spent money lavishly and partied
well.
Serious illness brought him to see the
emptiness of his life. His conversion reached a
climax when he embraced a leper he met along the
road. Soon thereafter he began to care for the
sick and gave his money to the poor.
One day, while he was praying in the run-down
church of San Damiano, he heard a voice coming
from the crucifix that said, “Francis, go and
repair my house, for it is nearly falling down.
At first, he thought God wanted him to repair
the church building. But soon he realized that
God wanted him to bring to people the
transforming power of the gospel.
Francis committed himself to prayer and to
actively preaching the gospel. He really
believed what Jesus said, “Announce the kingdom!
Don’t possess gold or silver or copper in your
purses, no traveling bag, no sandals, no staff.”
He was, for a time, considered to be a religious
“nut.” And he had a falling-out with his father.
But, eventually, others became inspired by his
example.
While Francis had no idea of founding a
religious order, his group of followers became
known as Friars Minor—humble brothers. They
dedicated themselves to prayer, humility, the
preaching of the gospel, and service to the poor
(since Christ was poor). This religious order—of
small beginnings—is now the largest in the
church.
During the last years of his relatively short
life (he died at 44) he was half-blind and
seriously ill. Two years before his death, he
received the stigmata, the real and painful
wounds of Christ in his hands, feet and side.
He died October 3, 1226 and was canonized two
years later. His feastday is October 4.
Because of his love of nature, which he
believed was another manifestation of the beauty
of God, St. Francis was named by Pope John Paul
II as the patron of the environment.
ST. CLARE OF
ASSISI might be considered the feminine
counterpart of St. Francis. They were good
friends and both were determined to live the
life of Gospel poverty. Clare was born in
Assisi, Italy, in 1193 (about twelve years after
St. Francis). While Francis was born into the
new middle class, Clare was born into the
upper-class. As a noblewoman, she was expected
to marry well and expand the family wealth.
Under God’s guidance, however, Clare made her
own choices and created a new path. She took a
vow of virginity, for she wanted only “God as
her lover.” She renounced her privileged
position in the nobility, for she believed that
having more than she needed denied food and
basic necessities to poor people.
When she was 18 Clare heard the preaching of
St. Francis and was determined to follow him. On
the night of Palm Sunday in 1212, Clare ran away
from her father’s home to the Portiuncula, where
Francis lived with his little community about a
mile outside Assisi. Francis met her in the
chapel. There Clare exchanged her fine clothes
for a rough woolen habit. Francis cut off her
long hair to symbolize her conversion. Her
father and uncles stormed in rage to pursue her
but to no avail.
Soon other women joined Clare in a life of
great poverty, humility, community prayer, and
of extending the healing power of Christ to
those in need. Today these sisters are known as
the Poor Clares.
Clare suffered serious illness for the last 27
years of her life, but it never prevented her
from continuing to wait on tables and serve the
sick.
At one point, Assisi was invaded by the
Saracens. Clare had the Blessed Sacrament placed
on the walls of the convent and assured her
sisters that they would be protected. The
Saracens fled.
Clare led her sisters for 40 years, until her
death at age 60 in 1253. She had lived 27 more
years than her friend and companion Francis. She
was canonized a saint two years after her death.
Her feastday is August 11.
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