Clare of Montefalco facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Clare of Montefalco
Christ implanting his Cross in the heart of Saint Clare of Montefalco
Saint Clare of the Cross
Born	1268 Montefalco, Umbria, Italy
Died	(1308-08-18)18 August 1308 Montefalco, Umbria, Italy
Venerated in	Roman Catholicism
Beatified	April 1, 1828, Rome by Pope Clement XII
Canonized	December 8, 1881, Rome by Pope Leo XIII
Major shrine	Church of Saint Clare, Montefalco
Feast	August 17
Attributes	Cross
Patronage	Montefalco

Clare of Montefalco (Italian: Chiara da Montefalco) was born around 1268 and died on August 18, 1308. She is also known as Saint Clare of the Cross. She was an Augustinian nun and a leader of a convent, called an abbess.

Before becoming a nun, Clare was part of the Third Order of St. Francis. She was later made a saint by Pope Leo XIII on December 8, 1881. It's important not to confuse her with Clare of Assisi, who lived earlier and helped start an order called the Poor Clares.

Who Was Clare of Montefalco?

Early Life in Montefalco

Clare was born in a town called Montefalco in Umbria, Italy, around the year 1268. Her family, the Vengentes, was quite wealthy. Her father, Damiano, built a small religious retreat, known as a hermitage, right in Montefalco.

Clare's older sister, Joan, and a friend named Andreola lived there. They were part of the Secular Franciscan Order, a group of people who followed the teachings of St. Francis but lived in the world.

Joining the Hermitage

In 1274, when Clare was only six years old, the local bishop allowed Joan to welcome more sisters into the hermitage. This is when Clare joined them. She moved into the hermitage and began wearing the special clothes, called a habit, worn by Franciscans.

By 1278, their community had grown quite a bit. They needed more space, so they built a larger hermitage further away from the town.

Becoming an Augustinian Nun

In 1290, Clare, her sister Joan, and their friends wanted to live an even stricter religious life. They asked the bishop if they could become nuns. Since the Third Order of St. Francis was not yet fully set up as a monastic order, the bishop helped them.

He started their new monastery next to the church of Sant'Illuminata in Montefalco. They followed the Rule of St. Augustine, which is a set of guidelines for monastic life. Clare took her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. These vows mean promising to live simply, remain unmarried, and obey God and her superiors. She officially became an Augustinian nun.

Her sister Joan was chosen as the first abbess, the leader of the nuns. Their small hermitage became a monastery.

Clare Becomes Abbess

Sadly, Joan died on November 22, 1291. After her sister's death, Clare was chosen to be the new abbess. At first, she didn't want the job. However, the bishop convinced her to accept the important role.

A Special Vision in 1294

The year 1294 was very important for Clare's spiritual journey. During the celebration of Epiphany, after she had confessed her sins to all the nuns, she fell into a deep ecstasy. This is a state where someone feels very close to God and might seem unaware of their surroundings. Clare stayed in this state for several weeks.

She couldn't even eat during this time, so the other nuns kept her alive by feeding her sugar water. During this period, Clare said she had a vision where she saw herself being judged by God.

Clare also described seeing Jesus dressed as a poor traveler. She said he looked very tired and weighed down by a cross. Clare knelt before him and asked, "My Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "I have looked all over the world for a strong place to plant this Cross firmly, and I have not found any."

Clare then reached for the cross, wanting to help him carry it. Jesus told her, "Clare, I have found a place for My cross here. I have finally found someone to whom I can trust My cross." Then, he placed the cross in her heart.

Clare truly believed this vision. The rest of her life was filled with pain and suffering, but she continued to serve joyfully. She was an abbess, a teacher, a mother figure, and a spiritual guide to her nuns. Many people came to the monastery because of her reputation for holiness and wisdom. Clare was also very practical and wise in how she managed the monastery's daily life. She made sure everyone lived in harmony.

Building a Church

In 1303, Clare was able to build a church in Montefalco. This church would serve both the nuns as a chapel and the people of the town. The first stone was blessed by the bishop on June 24. On that day, the church was dedicated to the Holy Cross (Santa Croce). A part of that original small church, called the Chapel of Santa Croce, is still connected to the larger Santa Chiara in Montefalco today.

Clare's Final Days

Clare served as abbess for sixteen years. By August 1308, she became very ill and had to stay in bed. On August 15, she asked to receive Extreme Unction, a special prayer for the sick. The next day, she sent for her brother to come to the monastery. Clare made her last confession on August 17. She died at about 40 years of age in the convent on August 18.

Becoming a Saint

The Path to Canonization

The process to make Clare a saint began in 1328. However, it took a long time. On April 13, 1737, Clare was officially declared "blessed" (a step before sainthood) by Pope Clement XII. This process is called beatification.

Finally, on December 8, 1881, which is the feast day of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Leo XIII officially made Clare a saint. This happened at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. She was recognized as an Augustinian saint, not a Franciscan.

See also

In Spanish: Clara de la Cruz para niños

• Incorruptibility
• List of Catholic saints