Saint Clare of the Cross of Montefalco was born in 1268 in Montefalco, Italy. (She should not be confused with St. Chiara of the nearby city of Assisi, who lived a few decades before her and was a collaborator of St Francis of Assisi.) Her life reminds us that we are all called to a life of prayer and dedication. She was the first Abbess to direct the Montefalco Monastery and its nuns, which was governed by the Rule of Saint Augustine.

Saint Clare loved the poor people, the ill and all those who suffered. To all those who came to the door in need, she gave whatever she could. Her heart was so forgiving that she even helped those who had spoken evil of her and who wished evil upon her.

Her canonization process was initiated in 1328, but it was not until 13 April 1737, that Clare was beatified by Pope Clement XII. On 8 December 1881, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Leo XIII canonized Clare as Saint Clare of Montefalco at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.

The monastery

Located just outside from the old city walls of Montefalco, this is an interesting monastery with adjoining church. It was founded at the end of the thirteenth century, from Chiara of Montefalco.

Despite these ancient origins, the church of the monastery has a more modern layout, having been rebuilt in the sixteenth century. It's still interesting for the urn containing the body of St. Chiara, an object of special veneration. Just a chapel of the church has preserved valuable, beautiful frescoes, of Umbrian-Tuscan school, dated at the foundation era.

The four websites listed below provide her biography in considerable detail.

Links

St Clare of the Cross of Montefalco. Her biography by Augustinian Friends USA. 
http://www.augustinianfriends.org/saints/clare.htm

St Clare of Montefalco. Wikipedia. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clare_of_Montefalco

Clare of Montefalco. By theMidwestern Province of the Augustinians, based in Chicago.
http://midwestaugustinians.org/st-clare-of-montefalco

Saint Clare. Born in 1268 of a rich family in Montefalco, Italy, Clare was the lively, sincere, and intelligent daughter of Damiano and Iacopa Vegente. In Italian, her name was "Chiara," which means "clear, bright, pure." While yet a teenager, Clare chose Christ as her one true love…. From the California Province of the Augustinians. 
http://osa-west.org/?s=montefalco

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