Today, we celebrate the memorial of Saint Clare of Assisi, virgin.

Saint Clare of Assisi was the abbess and founder of the Poor Clare. As a child, she was known to be devoted to prayer. Narratives say that as a teen she heard Saint Francis of Assisi preach during a Lenten service in the church of San Giorgio at Assisi and asked him to help her to live after the manner of the Gospel.

Saint Clare was placed by Saint Francis in San Damiano, where the new order emerged, the “Order of Poor Ladies of San Damiano.” In San Damiano, Saint Clare and her companion lived a life of poverty, austerity, and seclusion from the world, according to a Rule which Francis gave them.

On one occasion, San Damiano was attacked by Saracen armies and bowmen. The women swooned in terror, their voices trembling with fear as they cried to their Mother, Saint Clare. Saint Clare, with a fearless heart, commanded them to lead her, sick as she was, to the enemy, preceded by a silver and ivory case in which the Body of the Saint of saints was kept with great devotion. And prostrating herself before the Lord, she spoke tearfully to Chris and prayed.

When the Saracens burst into the church, they were caught off guard. On the floor lay the nuns in adoration. The sisters did not react to the intrusion; their full attention was on the Lord. The Saracens, with their foul reputation, always provoked a response. But not this time. None of the sisters were running to escape. No one was preparing to defend themselves or fight. Not one woman was screaming in terror. The mercenaries were then overcome with awe and fear and they fled.

Saint Clare died on 11 August 1253 at the age of 59. She was canonized by Pope Alexander IV.

“There are traditions of bringing offerings of eggs to the Poor Clares for their intercessions for good weather, particularly for weddings.[19] This tradition remains popular in the Philippines, particularly at the Real Monasterio de Santa Clara in Quezon City and in the town of Obando, Bulacan. According to the Filipino essayist Alejandro Roces, the practice arose because of Clare’s name. In Castilian, ‘clara’ refers to an interval of clear weather, and in Spanish, it also refers to the white or albumen of the egg.” [Roces, Alejandro (1980). Fiesta. Manila: Vera-Reyes. p. 83.]