Saint Clare of Montefalco

Also known as

• Clare of the Cross

Memorial

• 17 August
• 18 August on some calendars

Profile

Claimed by both the Franciscans and Augustinians. Pious from childhood, and devoted to Christ’s Passion and the Cross. Franciscan tertiary. Joined with her blood sisters and some friends to form a new Franciscan house, Holy Cross Convent in Montefalco, Italy, with Clare’s sister Joan as its first abbess. Reluctant abbess of the community at Santa Croce in 1255 following the death of her sister; the house eventually adapted the Rule of Saint Augustine. Upon her death, a cross was found emblazoned on the flesh above her heart.

Born

• c.1268 at Montefalco, diocese of Spoleto, Italy

Died

• 18 August 1308 at Montefalco, diocese of Spoleto, Italy
• body incorrupt

Beatified

• 13 April 1737 by Pope Clement XII

Canonized

• 8 December 1881 at Pope Leo XIII

Patronage

• Montefalco, Italy

Representation

• scales

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Encyclopedia
• New Catholic Dictionary
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

MLA Citation

• “Saint Clare of Montefalco”. Saints.SQPN.com. 11 December 2010. Web. 18 May 2013. <http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-clare-of-montefalco/>