Clare of Assiosi (c1193-1253): mystical luminary

Abstract

March 18th, 2012 marks 800 years since the founding of the Poor Clares, commemorating the day that Chiara Offreducio, now known as Clare of Assisi, rejected her affluent way of life and followed Francis in a life of poverty and prayer. Although fragile in health, Clare was a strong woman whose determination enabled her to obtain the “privilege of poverty” for her Order. Clare’s mysticism is essentially incarnational, scriptural and kenotic. Gleaned from a few letters to Agnes of Prague, Clare’s mysticism has continued to influence numerous people, lay and religious, over the last eight centuries.