Why we chose the name "Clare"

Clare is named after St. Clare of Assisi. St. Clare was an Italian noblewoman, the daughter of a wealthy family, who was born in 1194 and died in 1253. As a young woman she heard St. Francis of Assisi preach, and she longed to imitate St. Francis and live a life of poverty for Jesus. She was co-foundress of the Order of "Poor Clares." St. Francis took Clare and her sister Agnes to the small residence adjoining the Church of San Damiano, and it was there that the order was established with Clare appointed superioress of the convent. During an attack on the convent of San Damiano by soldiers of Frederick II, Clare held a ciborium before them, and they retreated. Clare found such great joy in serving God that she once said, "They say that we are too poor, but can a heart which possesses the infinite God be truly called poor?"

We took this photo of the statue of St. Clare at the Church of San Damiano in Assisi, Italy, in July of 2007, while we were on a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi. We prayed for our Clare in the Basilica of St. Clare; we attended Mass at the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and at the Church of San Damiano.

St. Clare and St. Francis, pray for us!