St. Clare

St. Clare was born in 1194 of noble Italian parents. She was a devout follower of St. Francis of Assisi and ran away from home to give herself to God and to live a poor and humble life for Jesus. She founded an order of nuns called the “Poor Clares”. Sacred art and stained glass featuring St. Clare sometimes shows her with her group of sisters, or miraculously saving a child from a wolf. Despite living in poverty, eating no meat and wearing no shoes, Clare and the sisters with her were very happy because our Lord was close to them. So great was St. Clare’s joy in serving the Lord that she said: “They say that we are too poor, but can a heart which possesses the infinite God be truly called poor?” She is the patron saint of eye diseases, goldsmiths and embroiderers. Her feast day commemorates the day of her death on August 11^th, at the age of 59. Should you wish to venerate St. Clare with a beautiful stained glass panel or window for your church or prayer chapel, we can help you design and purchase a suitable work of art.