About St. Clare
St. Clare of Assisi was born on July 16, 1194 in Assisi, Italy. She died on August 11, 1253. Her parents were Ortolana, a devout Christian and Favorino Scifi, the Count of Sasso-Rosso.
When St. Clare’s parents promised her in marriage to a rich man of the town, St. Clare ran to St. Francis who accepted her into religious life. She lived with the Benedictine nuns for a short amount of time.
St. Clare moved to the San Damiano Church which St. Francis had rebuilt and other women followed St. Clare to the church. The women lived austere lives and were known as the Poor Ladies.
St. Clare of Assisi founded the new religious order, Order of San Damiano at the church. They devoted themselves to manual labor and prayer. This religious order became one of the most important orders of the time. After the death of St. Clare, the order became known as the Order of St. Clare.
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