Signs of the Times  

    ST PHILOMENA and ST.CLARE -- FEASTDAY AUGUST 11th

     St. Clare was canonized September 26, 1255 by Pope Alexander IV

   PATRON SAINT of:

   Embroiderers, eye disease, eyes, gilders, goldsmiths, gold workers, good weather, laundry workers, needle workers, Santa Clara Indian Pueblo, telegraphs, telephones, television...


     Clare Offreducia was born in 1194 into an aristocratic family.  She dismayed her parents at the age of 12 when she refused to marry, and even more a few years later when she ran away from home to become a nun after hearing St. Francis preach.  She joined the Benedictine nuns in a convent at Bastia.  Clare's younger sister, Agnes, also ran away and joined her.

    In 1215, Francis offered Clare  a house in Assisi, where she became abbess of the first community of women living under the austere Franciscan rule.  After her father died, Clare and Agnes were joined at Assisi by their mother and another sister, Beatrice.  Clare obtained a charter from Pope Innocent III which ensured absolute poverty without ownership of any property and living entirely on charity.  Her order became known as the Poor Clare order, which spread throughout Europe.

      They went barefoot, observed perpetual abstinence, constant silence and perfect poverty.   While the Saracen Army of Frederick II was ravaging the valley of Spoleto, a body of infidels advanced to assault St. Clare's convent, which stood outside Assisi.  The Saint caused the Blessed Sacrament to be placed in a monstrance abovet he gate of the monastery facing the enemy and kneeling before it, with the prayer, "Deliver not to beasts, OLord, the souls of those who confess to Thee."  A voice from the Host replied, "My protection will never fail you."  A sudden panic seized the infidel host, which took to flight, and the Saint's convent was spared.  During her illness of 28 years the Holy Eucharist was her only support and spinnng linen for the altar the only work of her hands.

     Legend has it that she once saw in a vision a Christmas service she was too ill to attend, and this led to her adoption (in 1958) as the patron saint of television.  Clare spent her life at Assisi, where she became famous for her meditativeness, holiness and wisdom.  Clare died in 1253  as the Passion was being read and Our Lady and the angels conducted her to glory--she was canonized only two years later.  Her order continues to this day, preserving the ideals that inspired both Clare and her mentor, St. Francis.