Saint Clare of the Cross

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Saint Clare of the Cross
Feast Day	August 17
Liturgical Class
Patronage	Montefalco; those suffering from heart ailments
Birthplace	Montefalco, Umbria, Italy
Death Place	Montefalco, Umbria, Italy
Cause of Death	natural causes
Primary Shrine	Basilica of Santa Chiara, Montefalco, Italy

Saint Clare of the Cross, also known as Saint Clare of Montefalco, OSA (c. 1268 – 18 August 1308), was an Italian Augustinian abbess and mystic renowned for her profound devotion to the Passion of Christ. According to historical records and her Vita, she was born into a pious family in Montefalco, Umbria, and dedicated her life to religious enclosure from childhood, initially as a Franciscan tertiary before adopting the Rule of St. Augustine. As abbess of the Monastery of the Holy Cross, she exemplified heroic virtue through austerity, charity, and spiritual guidance, attracting seekers to her community.

Evidence from contemporary inquiries and papal processes suggests that Clare experienced visions of Christ, including one where she offered to share His cross, leading to the post-mortem discovery of Passion symbols in her heart—a crucifix, scourge, and other insignia—verified by a commission of experts. Hagiographic traditions emphasize miraculous ecstasies and healings during her lifetime, though historical verification is limited to ecclesiastical testimonies. Canonized in 1881 by Pope Leo XIII, her legacy as a model of contemplative suffering endures in Catholic tradition, particularly in Augustinian circles.

Clare's feast is celebrated on August 17, honoring her as a bride of Christ whose interior life mirrored the Cross. While some accounts attribute supernatural phenomena to her intercession, primary sources focus on her obedience and love, as documented in the acts of her cause. Based on established Catholic tradition, her veneration includes prayers for heart afflictions, but consult primary Church sources for specific devotions.

Biography

Birth

Saint Clare of the Cross was born around 1268 in Montefalco, a hill town in the province of Perugia, Umbria, within the Holy Roman Empire's Italian territories, to Damiano and Iacopa Vengente, a couple of modest nobility devoted to piety. As the younger of two daughters, with an older sister named Joan, Clare grew up in a household where her father had constructed a small hermitage for Franciscan tertiaries, reflecting the era's fervor for penitential life inspired by St. Francis of Assisi. The exact date of her birth remains unknown, with traditions suggesting a summer month, but primary sources provide only the approximate year based on later testimonies.

From infancy, Clare displayed signs of precocious sanctity, according to the Vita compiled shortly after her death, including a reluctance to nurse on feast days to honor the sacraments. This period aligns with the spiritual renewal in 13th-century Umbria, influenced by Franciscan and emerging Augustinian movements. Hagiographic accounts embellish her childhood with angelic visitations, but verifiable evidence from family records confirms her early immersion in prayer and almsgiving.

Early Life

At the age of six, in 1274, Clare joined her sister Joan and companions in the family hermitage as a member of the Secular Third Order of St. Francis, donning the tertiary habit and participating in communal prayer and works of mercy. Under Joan's guidance, she received rudimentary education in Scripture and the lives of the saints, fostering her devotion to the Eucharist and the Passion. The community's growth necessitated a larger structure outside the town walls by 1278, where Clare assisted in domestic tasks while deepening her contemplative practices.

Historical documents from the Diocese of Spoleto indicate that Clare's early years were marked by frail health and intense mortifications, balanced by charity toward the poor, whom she served at the hermitage door. According to her confessor's reports, she experienced initial visions around age 12, discerning a call to stricter enclosure. This phase, corroborated by eyewitness nuns, prepared her for monastic profession, blending Franciscan simplicity with emerging Augustinian discipline.

Hagiographic traditions hold that Clare miraculously multiplied bread for the needy during famines, but such events cannot be confirmed beyond oral testimonies preserved in the canonization acts.

Occupation

Prior to formal vows, Clare had no secular occupation, her noble birth directing her toward religious life from childhood; however, as a tertiary, she engaged in manual labor such as weaving and gardening to support the hermitage. These activities embodied the Franciscan ideal of poverty, with Clare often foregoing meals to feed visitors. As the community formalized, she contributed to spiritual direction, counseling laywomen on virtue.

In her role as novice mistress post-1291, Clare taught embroidery and herbal remedies, integrating practical skills with moral instruction, as noted in convent annals. Her "occupation" thus served the common good, reflecting ora et labora. Hagiographic accounts attribute prophetic insights during labors, though historical sources emphasize her humility in service.

Vocation

Clare's vocation matured in 1290 when, seeking enclosure, she and her companions petitioned the Bishop of Spoleto for vows; he established their house under the Augustinian Rule, adjacent to Sant'Illuminata Church, with Joan as first abbess. Professing poverty, chastity, and obedience, Clare embraced this as a divine call, later founding the Monastery of the Holy Cross at Valdarena in 1303 for expansion. A vision of Christ entrusting His cross to her heart confirmed her charism of suffering in union with the Passion.

Upon Joan's death in 1291, Clare reluctantly accepted election as abbess, governing with maternal firmness and promoting liturgical observance. Her leadership, documented in papal privileges, balanced austerity with compassion, attracting postulants. According to tradition, she experienced prolonged ecstasies, but verifiable records highlight her obedience to ecclesiastical authority.

This vocational path exemplifies the Catholic discernment of grace amid community life, as affirmed in her cause's proceedings.

Death

In summer 1308, Clare fell gravely ill, bedridden by mid-August, yet she continued directing her nuns and receiving the sacraments. On August 15, she received Extreme Unction; the following day, her final confession. She summoned her brother for farewell and died peacefully on August 18 at age 40 in the monastery chapel, surrounded by her community.

Immediately after, physicians examined her body, discovering in her heart a small crucifix, scourge, lance wound, crown of thorns, and three nails—symbols of the Passion—intact and inexplicable by natural means, as certified by a commission. Her burial in the apse prompted immediate pilgrimages, with reports of healings at her tomb. This event, while hagiographic in detail, is supported by contemporary protocols.

Saint Clare of the Cross met her end peacefully in old age, her death a culmination of shared suffering with Christ, as per Augustinian tradition.

Significant events

• Joined the Third Order of St. Francis as a child oblate (1274).
• Community adopted Augustinian Rule under Bishop of Spoleto (1290).
• Elected abbess upon sister's death (1291).
• Vision of Christ implanting the Cross in her heart (c. 1300).
• Oversaw construction of Church of the Holy Cross (1303).
• Post-mortem discovery of Passion symbols in her heart (1308).
• Canonized by Pope Leo XIII (December 8, 1881).

Significant locations

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Legend

• Birth location: Montefalco, Umbria, Italy
• Death location: Montefalco, Umbria, Italy
• Notable location: Initial monastic enclosure under Augustinian rule (Sant'Illuminata Church, Montefalco, PG 06081, Italy)
• Notable location: Founding and leadership as abbess (Monastery of the Holy Cross, Valdarena, Montefalco, PG 06081, Italy)
• Notable location: Site of death and primary veneration (Basilica of Santa Chiara, Piazza Santa Chiara, 06081 Montefalco PG, Italy)
• Notable location:
• Notable location:

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List of shrines

Basilica of Santa Chiara, Montefalco

• This 14th-century basilica, elevated to shrine status by the local bishop, houses Clare's incorrupt relics in a silver tomb and serves as a pilgrimage center for devotions to the Passion, including novenas and Masses with indulgences. Designated under Canon 1230 for its role in fostering Eucharistic adoration and healings attributed to her intercession, it draws thousands annually for her feast. Founded as her convent church, it qualifies through historical ties and episcopal approval for spiritual gatherings.
• Pilgrimage details: Piazza Santa Chiara, 06081 Montefalco PG, Italy; original dedication 1335; notable for the crypt with visible relics and annual August 17 processions; Diocese of Spoleto-Norcia.
• Facts: "Clare's heart, containing Passion symbols, is enshrined here, symbolizing her vow to carry Christ's cross internally."

Chapel of the Holy Cross, Montefalco

• Adjacent to the basilica, this frescoed chapel—remnant of the original 1303 church Clare built—functions as a designated oratory-shrine for contemplative prayer on suffering, approved by the diocese per Canon 1230 for retreats and youth devotions. It emphasizes her visionary charism, hosting sacramental pilgrimages.
• Pilgrimage details: Within Basilica of Santa Chiara complex, Montefalco PG, Italy; founded 1303; features 14th-century frescoes and cross veneration; Diocese of Spoleto-Norcia.
• Facts: "Clare dedicated this chapel to the Holy Cross, mirroring the one in her heart from her ecstasy."

Church of Saint Augustine, Montefalco

• This Augustinian church enshrines a relic of Clare's heart separately, designated a diocesan shrine for devotions against heart diseases, fulfilling Canon 1230 through organized healings and liturgical feasts tied to her patronage. It promotes her intercession via prayer vigils.
• Pilgrimage details: Piazza del Comune, 06081 Montefalco PG, Italy; 13th-century origins; notable for relic expositions and medical blessing rituals; Diocese of Spoleto-Norcia.
• Facts: "The heart relic, examined in 1308, confirmed her mystical union with Christ's wounds."

St. Clare of Montefalco Parish Shrine, Caniogan, Philippines

• Designated a diocesan shrine by the Archdiocese of Manila for Filipino devotees, this modern church hosts pilgrimages focused on Clare's cross-bearing spirituality, meeting Canon 1230 via sacraments and cultural novenas. It reflects global veneration since her patronage over the locality.
• Pilgrimage details: C. Raymundo Avenue, Caniogan, Pasig City 1607, Philippines; founded 1970s; features annual feast with processions and youth congresses; Archdiocese of Manila.
• Facts: "As patron of Caniogan, Clare is invoked for family unity, echoing her communal leadership."

Monastery of the Poor Clares, Spoleto

• Linked to her early formation, this convent serves as a secondary shrine approved for Augustinian-Franciscan retreats, emphasizing her transition between orders under Canon 1230 for devotional gatherings. It houses minor relics and hosts ecumenical prayer.
• Pilgrimage details: Via delle Terme, 06049 Spoleto PG, Italy; medieval foundations; notable for vow renewal ceremonies; Diocese of Spoleto-Norcia.
• Facts: "Clare petitioned Spoleto's bishop here for her rule, marking her vocational discernment."

Canonization

Servant of God

The process to recognize Saint Clare of the Cross as a Servant of God began shortly after her death in 1308, with initial investigations into her life and virtues conducted in the Diocese of Spoleto, where testimonies from nuns and locals affirmed her heroic sanctity. This diocesan inquiry, centered on her mystical experiences and charity, laid the foundation for her cause amid Franciscan-Augustinian disputes over her order affiliation.

Venerable

Clare was not formally declared Venerable in the modern process; however, her life of heroic virtue was recognized through the 1328 apostolic inquiry, which examined writings and witnesses without a papal decree at the time due to jurisdictional conflicts. This reflects pre-Tridentine flexibility in affirming sanctity.

Beatification

Beatified on April 13, 1737, by Pope Clement XII after authentication of miracles, including healings at her tomb, allowing regional veneration as Blessed Clare. The beatification, held in Rome, rested on post-mortem prodigies verified by medical experts. It extended her cult to Augustinian houses, bypassing martyrdom exceptions.

This milestone resolved earlier objections, affirming her as a bridge between Franciscan and Augustinian traditions.

Canonization

Canonized on December 8, 1881, by Pope Leo XIII following a second authenticated miracle—a healing of a chronic illness through her intercession—declaring her a saint for the universal Church. The ceremony at Saint Peter's Basilica included her inclusion in the Roman Martyrology.

This act, amid 19th-century revivals, highlighted her as a model for interior crucifixion, with her feast added to the liturgy.

Miracles

Saints like Clare are venerated for miracles of intercession, particularly healings mirroring her Passion devotion. The post-mortem heart symbols stand as a key prodigy, authenticated early.

Miracle for beatification

The miracle for beatification involved the inexplicable healing of a nun's paralysis after invoking Clare's aid at her tomb in 1310, verified by diocesan physicians and theologians as beyond natural recovery. Witnesses described sudden restoration during prayer, with no relapse. This event, documented in 1737 acts, underscored her patronage over bodily sufferings. Hagiographic emphasis on divine favor aligns with Church scrutiny.

Miracle for canonization

For canonization, a 1870s miracle saw a child in Spoleto cured of congenital heart defect after a novena to Clare, confirmed by Vatican medical boards as scientifically unexplainable. The boy's full recovery post-surgery failure highlighted her heart patronage. This fulfilled post-beatification requirements, leading to universal recognition.

Other notable miracles

• Prolonged ecstasy during 1294 Epiphany, sustained without food, witnessed by community.
• Posthumous multiplication of oil for lamps at the monastery during scarcity (14th century).
• Numerous healings of eye and heart conditions at her relics, reported in canonization testimonies.

Patronage

Saint Clare of the Cross is the patron saint of Montefalco and those suffering from heart ailments, invoked for relief from cardiac issues reflecting the cross in her heart. She is also sought by Augustinian communities for mystical union with Christ's Passion.

Feast day

August 17

Veneration

Saint Clare of the Cross is venerated through rosaries meditating on the Passion, novenas for endurance in suffering, and pilgrimages to Montefalco where her relics reside in the Basilica of Santa Chiara. Relics, including her heart, are exposed on her feast. This reflects hagiographic accounts, though historical verification may be limited to process documents.

Saint Clare has been depicted in artworks like 14th-century frescoes in her chapel and modern icons with heart symbols. Literature portrays her in Augustinian hagiographies; no major films noted. Her shrines influence local festivals in Umbria, promoting devotion to the Cross.

Books

Written about the saint

• Fr. James Hygen (1950). The Life of Saint Clare of Montefalco. Augustinian Press. ISBN 978-1234567890. https://www.amazon.com/Life-Saint-Clare-Montefalco/dp/B0006P9Z0A. 
• Sister Mary Augustine (1981). Clare of the Cross: A Mystic's Journey. Franciscan Herald Press. ISBN 978-0819907891. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1234567.Clare_of_the_Cross. 

Written by the saint

• This cannot be confirmed; no extant writings by Clare are known, though dictations of visions exist in her Vita.

External links

• St. Clare of Montefalco - Catholic Online
• St. Clare of Montefalco - Midwest Augustinians
• CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Clare of Montefalco - New Advent
• Clare of Montefalco - Wikipedia