Christian Women of the Medieval Era – Part 41

Clare of Assisi – Part 2

Introduction

Countless numbers of Christian women served in the kingdom of God during the Middle Ages. What we call the “Middle Ages” or the Medieval period lasted from around 500 AD to 1500 AD. From Genovefa (423 – 502) through Elizabeth of Portugal (1271- 1336) we have told the stories of God’s faithful and humble servants. There were queens, abbesses, nuns, Beguines, Franciscan sisters, writers, godly wives, mothers, empresses, social reformers, and many other women who served Christ. 

Many of the saintly women in the thirteenth century and beyond were influenced by the Franciscans. Because there were three orders in the Franciscan body many people could serve Christ full time. Men who took the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience would be part of the First Order. Francis helped Clare found the Second Order of sisters who also took the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. There would be a Third Order established for lay people. Married people and wealthy people could still take the vow of obedience. Married followers would commit to raising godly families while obeying the leaders in their local Franciscan monastery. Wealthy disciples could and did commit to using their riches to help the poor. Today the Third Order of Franciscans still has many adherents.

In our last post we began the story of Clare of Assisi. We saw that she was impressed with Francis and that he was impressed by her piety. Francis was determined to restore right worship in the church. He also believed that everyone, men, women, single, married, rich, and poor were called to follow Christ. He welcomed the opportunity that he believed God gave him to help Clare found a female monastery.

Clare of Assisi – A Light for Peace and Justice – Part 2

Her name shall be “light”.    

In our last post we talked about Francis of Assisi and his vision for all men and women to follow in Christ’s
footsteps caring for the poor. He had been praying for the right woman to come along and help with the work in a second order. God answered his prayer and brought Clare to him.

As a noblewoman in Assisi Clare could have enjoyed the privilege of wealth. She had access to servants, beautiful gowns, jewels. She also had an education. Most of the socialites spent their time planning festivals, balls, banquets, or other ways to entertain themselves. Yet, in part thanks to her mother’s teaching, Clare did not attend many of these lavish events. Ortulana, Clare, and her sisters avoided worldly pursuits by exercising modesty, humility, and prayer. Clare wore simple clothing and even engaged in manual labor, such as gardening. She spent time caring for the poor with her own hands. From her earliest life, Clare practiced a holy life that she would continue in her monastery. 

Clare soon had a reputation as a holy woman in her community. People noticed her going about in simple clothing giving money and food to the poor. The people of Assisi held her in high esteem. 

Clare’s father and uncle began to plan for her marriage to a wealthy nobleman. They expected to use her to bring more wealth and privileges to the family. Clare vowed that the only one she wished to be espoused to was Jesus Christ. The only riches she desired were a pure heart and praise from her Savior as she worked among the poor. Clare was sad that most people only thought of worldly riches and power. 

One day, gazing at the crucifix in the chapel Clare saw that Jesus was poor. “Why weren’t more Christians, even in the church, seeking to follow in His footsteps?” she wondered. She knew now that she wanted to enter a monastery and devote her life to prayer and caring for the poor. It would not be easy. Her family would object and try to force her into a worldly marriage. 

Clare had visited a Benedictine monastery. In the early 13th century that was the main option for women who wanted to take the veil. However, in those cloisters noblewomen like herself entered with great wealth, servants, and other privileges. This was not Clare’s idea of a life of the imitation of Christ through poverty. She wanted to give away her wealth and work like the lowborn sisters. 

When Clare heard Francis preach, she knew that she had found her way. Francis had been wealthy and succeeded in giving his riches away. Francis led a genuine life of prayer, poverty, and penance. Clare sought his help in escaping from her family and 

joining a monastery. Like Francis Clare desired to follow Christ’s advice to the rich young ruler. “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21). 

Interestingly, Clare and Francis had already met. Some years before this, Francis had had a vision that he would start a monastery for women. When he learned from others in Assisi how devout Clare was, he knew that Clare was the woman who would fulfill the prophecy. Clare agreed with Francis that she would give up everything and live a life of true poverty, prayerfulness, humility, and chastity. An important consideration in following in the way of Francis was that Clare could be “in the world” serving and praying but not “of the world”. Clare went home after the meeting with a deep feeling of peace. 

The occasion of Clare’s departure from her wealthy home was Lent, 1212. She was now eighteen years old and legally of age to make decisions for her life. Francis was willing to help her. Before she left home, she put all her affairs in order. She not only sold her personal possessions, but she renounced her birthright and inheritance. 

On Palm Sunday, the feast commemorating the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, Clare entered the church and sat in the back. Guido, the bishop of Assisi was preparing for the Mass. As Guido handed out the palm branches, he noticed that Clare did not come forward for the blessing. As he approached her and gave the palm branch to her personally, he knew what she was about to do. He nodded his approval and even helped her escape that night. Clare’s younger sister, Catherine, helped Clare dress and bid her farewell as Clare departed. Clare made her way outside of the city walls. Soon Francis and the brothers met her and escorted her back to the monastery. Their first female companion! The men were thrilled to have a sister among them. Clare went with them to the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, which became known as Portiuncula. 

That night Francis shaved Clare’s head, giving her a tonsure. Then he had her exchange her rich clothes for a simple gown and a veil. Clare was now free from ever having to marry an earthly spouse. She was now free to devote her life to Christ. 

Clare knew that her family would come looking for her as soon as she was found missing. That was one of the reasons Francis gave her the tonsure immediately. He then took her to the Church of San Paolo at Bastia, a few miles from Assisi. Her relatives found her there and tried to convince her to come home. Though they tried to be very forceful she remained in the cloister. Francis then moved her to San Angelo di Panzo, a monastery of Beguines^[1] and then to San Damiano, the first of the churches that Francis had repaired after the Lord commanded him to rebuild his church. 

Clare was now able to begin her life of service to Christ.

To be continued next time….

^[1] For more on the Beguines, see the post on this blog last October – https://mylordkatie.wordpress.com/2020/10/19/christian-women-in-the-medieval-era-part-30/