The Order of Poor Clares , also known as the Order of Poor Ladies , is a religious community of women founded in 1212 in Assisi, Italy, by Clare of Assisi and under the spiritual leadership of Saint Francis of Assisi . This order belongs to the Franciscan family and is characterized by a life of radical poverty, contemplative prayer, and withdrawal from the world. In this article, we will explore in detail the history, spirituality, and way of life of the Poor Clares.
Historical Context and Foundation
The historical context of the founding of the Poor Clares dates back to a time of great spiritual and religious upheaval in the early 13th century. This period of European history is marked by a growing desire for a return to a more authentic Christian life, away from the excesses of wealth and power that had begun to infiltrate some institutions of the Church. A broader movement of ecclesiastical reform developed, with the emergence of religious orders advocating an austere life and begging for their subsistence, seeking to live the Gospel more faithfully. It was in this climate that the Poor Clares, like that of the Franciscans , took shape.
Medieval Europe and Spiritual Revival
In the late 12th and early 13th centuries, Western Europe was experiencing a surge of religious fervor. The Crusades were in full swing, seeking to regain control of the holy places in the Holy Land, but at the same time, there was strong criticism of abuses within the clergy, particularly the accumulation of wealth. In the growing cities, many of the faithful expressed their thirst for spiritual renewal, leading to the creation of religious movements centered on the imitation of the poor Christ.
Reliquary containing a relic of Saint Clare of Assisi on relics.es
Mendicant orders, such as the Franciscans and Dominicans, emerged in this context. Unlike traditional monastic orders (such as the Benedictines and Cistercians), these new movements did not seek to isolate themselves from the world, but to remain anchored in it to preach the word of God and support the poorest. They made a point of practicing poverty and detaching themselves from material goods, living solely on charity and donations. Saint Francis of Assisi, who founded the Franciscan order in 1209, is the perfect embodiment of this. With his commitment to radical poverty and his love for all creation, Francis became a model of holiness for this new spiritual wave.
Clare of Assisi: a young noblewoman attracted by evangelical poverty
It is in this context that Clare of Assisi appears. Born in 1194 into a noble family, Clare is the daughter of Favarone de Offreduccio and Ortolana, a wealthy and influential family. However, despite her aristocratic origins, Clare is marked from a very young age by a deep desire to follow a life dedicated to God. She is strongly inspired by the example of Francis of Assisi, who renounced his own wealth to lead a life of absolute simplicity.
In 1212, at the age of 18, Clare made a radical decision that would change not only her life, but the history of the Church. Against her family's wishes, she fled at night and joined Francis at the small chapel of the Portiuncula, a symbolic place for the Franciscans. There, she cut her hair as a sign of renunciation of her life as a young noblewoman, and took the veil of a nun, thus marking her commitment to a life of poverty and service to God. This bold act was the starting point of a new religious community of women: the Order of the Poor Ladies, known today as the Order of Poor Clares.
The establishment of the community in San Damiano
After joining Francis, Clare settled in a small monastery adjacent to the church of San Damiano in Assisi, a place that would become the spiritual heart of the new community. Gradually, other women, often members of the nobility, were attracted by Clare's example and joined the order. Among them were Clare's sisters, as well as her mother, who also gave up her privileges to embrace the austere life of poverty. Thus, the Poor Clare movement took shape.
The support of Saint Francis is crucial in this initial phase. He sees in Clare a person with great strength of character and a deep love of Christ. Together, they share the same vision of a poor Church, close to the people, and deeply in tune with evangelical values. Francis is the guarantor of this new community, encouraging it to follow a strict life of prayer, contemplation and absolute poverty.
Papal Recognition and the "Privilege of Poverty"
The Order of the Poor Ladies quickly grew in popularity, and its reputation spread far beyond the borders of Assisi. However, despite the nuns' piety and commitment, Clare faced challenges in gaining official recognition from the Church, which did not readily approve of radical poverty, especially for communities of women.
In 1228, five years after the death of Saint Francis, Pope Gregory IX finally approved the Poor Clares, allowing them to live according to the strict rule of poverty they advocated. However, it was not until 1253, a year before Clare's death, that she was able to obtain the "Privilege of Poverty," a papal document that officially enshrined their vow of absolute poverty. This privilege committed the nuns to live without property or a steady income, entirely dependent on donations and providence.
Clare, weakened by illness but carried by an unwavering faith, obtained this papal approval just a few days before her death, on August 11, 1253. This act sealed the fundamental spirit of the order: a life of voluntary poverty, prayer and contemplation, lived in a female fraternity under the spiritual direction of Clare and her successors.
Reliquary containing a relic of Saint Clare of Assisi on relics.es
The impact of the founding of the Order of the Poor Clares
The creation of the Poor Clares was more than just a monastic institution. It marked a turning point in the way women could engage in religious life at that time. By rejecting privilege and wealth, Clare and her sisters demonstrated that a life of radical poverty and total devotion was possible for women, on an equal footing with men, within the Church.
Thus, the Order of the Poor Clares is not only a contemplative order; it is a symbol of religious reform, spiritual emancipation, and renewal of the Christian faith in an era marked by profound transformations.
Spirituality of the Poor Clares
The spirituality of the Poor Clares, founded by Clare of Assisi, is deeply rooted in the Franciscan ideal of simplicity and poverty. Inspired by the example of St. Francis of Assisi, Clare created a community of women dedicated entirely to a life of poverty, contemplative prayer, and community life. These three pillars— poverty , prayer , and community —form the very essence of their religious vocation and way of life. Each principle is lived with a spiritual depth that reflects their commitment to follow Christ in total dependence on God.
Radical Poverty
Central to the spirituality of the Poor Clares is their commitment to radical poverty , which recalls the life of Christ and his early disciples. Clare and her sisters, following Francis' example, chose to renounce not only the possession of personal property, but also any form of collective property. This distinguished the Poor Clares from other female religious orders who often owned land or had stable sources of income to support themselves.
For Clare, poverty was not simply a lifestyle choice, but a way of conforming to the poor and crucified Christ. She saw in this renunciation a means of detaching herself from the material world in order to unite herself more fully with God. This radical poverty expressed an absolute trust in divine providence. The Poor Clares depended exclusively on alms and gifts offered by the faithful, often in the form of food or other necessities. They lived in total destitution, welcoming every benefit as a divine grace.
Clare herself was a staunch defender of this way of life, repeatedly refusing papal and episcopal attempts to mitigate the severity of this poverty. Her fight for the "Privilege of Poverty" - a papal document allowing the order to own neither income nor property - demonstrated her determination to maintain this spiritual requirement. For Clare, poverty was not only an act of mortification, but a path to spiritual freedom and an expression of her complete trust in God.
Contemplative Prayer
The life of the Poor Clares is also marked by a devotion to contemplative prayer , which constitutes the second fundamental pillar of their spirituality. The sisters spend most of their day in prayer, living withdrawn from the outside world to devote themselves entirely to the contemplation of God. Their vocation is to pray for the world and for the Church, in a spirit of recollection and silence.
The prayer of the Poor Clares is punctuated by the Liturgy of the Hours , which structures their day into several moments of community prayer. They gather to sing or recite the psalms, meditate on the Scriptures and participate in the Eucharist. In addition to these times of formal prayer, the Poor Clares devote long hours to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a practice particularly dear to Clare of Assisi.
This life of silent and continuous prayer aims to imitate the contemplative life of Christ himself, who often withdrew to pray alone. The prayer of the Poor Clares is also a form of service: even if they are cloistered, they see their contemplative vocation as a way of spiritually supporting the outside world. By withdrawing from the world, they place themselves in a profound communion with God, offering their prayers and their lives as a sacrifice for the salvation of souls.
Prayer is not seen as a formal activity alone, but as an attitude of the heart. The sisters are encouraged to cultivate continuous interior prayer, a state of adoration and constant presence to God, even while carrying out the simplest tasks of daily life. This integral approach to prayer is one of the most distinctive aspects of Poor Clare spirituality.
Community Life
The third pillar of the spirituality of the Poor Clares is community life , lived in a spirit of fraternity, simplicity and obedience. The sisters live together in cloistered monasteries, respecting a strict enclosure that separates them from the outside world. This community life is governed by a clear and orderly rule, centered on charity and mutual obedience.
Obedience within the community is essential. Each Poor Clare takes a vow of obedience, not only to the Church and her superiors, but also to the abbess, who is elected by the sisters to lead the community. The abbess plays a central role in ensuring that order and discipline are respected, while ensuring that the spiritual life of the sisters is nourished. This mutual obedience is seen as a form of service, a way of following the example of Christ, who himself obeyed the will of God even to the cross.
Community life is also marked by a strong fraternity. Clare has established an atmosphere of kindness and charity among the sisters. Each member of the community is encouraged to see her fellow sisters as sisters in Christ, sharing together not only the joys but also the difficulties and sacrifices of religious life. The spirit of sharing and mutual aid is at the heart of the daily life of the Poor Clares, reflecting the evangelical ideals of simplicity and fraternal love.
This community life is also a source of spiritual support. Living together, sharing prayers, meals, domestic tasks, creates a unique solidarity that helps each sister to persevere in her vocation. Despite the rigor of their life, the Poor Clares find in this common life a space of spiritual joy and growth in their journey towards God.
The spirituality of the Poor Clares, with its three great principles of poverty, prayer and community life, is a path of holiness that calls for a radical transformation of daily life. By following the poor Christ, devoting themselves to a life of contemplative prayer and living in humble and simple fraternity, the Poor Clares offer the world a powerful example of spiritual commitment. Their life, although withdrawn from the world, remains a living testimony to faith, love and prayer, in the purest tradition of the Gospel.
Rule of Life and Discipline
The Rule of Life of the Poor Clares, drawn up by Clare of Assisi and approved by Pope Innocent IV in 1253, is one of the most significant documents of female monastic spirituality in the Middle Ages. Inspired by the Franciscan Rule , its purpose is to guide the sisters in a life entirely devoted to God through prayer, poverty, and obedience. This text reflects Clare's radical commitment to living in total dependence on divine providence, while structuring community life with rigorous discipline.
Poverty, at the heart of the rule
Radical poverty is one of the central elements of the Poor Clares' rule of life. Clare of Assisi insisted on collective and individual poverty , seeing it as a direct imitation of the life of Christ and his apostles. Unlike other monastic orders of the time, which might own land, income, or wealth, the Poor Clares owned nothing. The entire order depended on the charity of others and divine providence for its sustenance.
In the rule, Clare stipulates that the sisters must have no personal or collective property . This even included the refusal of any fixed income, a rare practice for the time, since the majority of religious orders ensured sources of income to support themselves. This extreme choice is based on the belief that total dependence on God frees the soul from attachment to material goods, thus allowing one to concentrate entirely on prayer and the relationship with God.
The Rule encourages the sisters to accept whatever is offered to them, whether in terms of food or clothing, with gratitude, without ever seeking to accumulate anything. Clare herself defended this position throughout her life, refusing offers to alleviate the rigor of this poverty, even when they came from the popes. For her, poverty was a path to holiness, a way to live in union with the poor Christ.
Obedience to the Abbess and the Church
The Poor Clares' rule also places a strong emphasis on obedience, which is seen as an essential virtue in their spiritual journey. Obedience to religious authorities, and in particular to the abbess, is a central component of their life. The abbess, elected by the community, plays the role of spiritual guide, mother and head of the monastery's discipline. The sisters must obey her in everything, seeing in her a figure of divine authority.
This obedience also extends to ecclesiastical superiors , whether the local bishop or the pope, reflecting complete submission to the hierarchy of the Church. However, Clare of Assisi was careful to ensure that this obedience was not a burden, but rather a form of spiritual freedom. By renouncing their own will, the sisters united themselves more closely with God, seeking to fulfill not their own desire, but that of their Creator.
Obedience is also manifested in community life. Each sister must follow the rules of the monastery with humility, agreeing to renounce her personal preferences for the common good. This includes aspects as simple as accepting assigned tasks or submitting to the abbess's decisions on liturgy or daily organization.
The Prayer Continues
Continuous prayer is another fundamental element of the Poor Clares’ rule of life. The monastery is a place of silence and contemplation, where every aspect of life is ordered around the relationship with God. Clare designed the rule so that every moment of the day is sanctified by prayer.
The Poor Clares' day is punctuated by the Liturgy of the Hours , a set of daily prayers that mark the entire day, from dawn until nightfall. Religious services include psalms, Bible readings, and specific prayers, which allow the sisters to remain in constant contact with God. Prayer is not reserved for specific times, but should permeate their entire lives. In addition to community services, the sisters are encouraged to practice personal prayer and spend time in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament , a central practice for Clare and her fellow sisters.
Prayer, according to the Rule, is a form of service. Even though the sisters are cloistered, they are called to pray for the outside world, for the Church, and for all souls. Their prayer thus becomes an act of universal love and spiritual support, an invisible bridge between their withdrawn life and the rest of society.
The Strict Closure
The observance of enclosure is a distinctive and rigorous aspect of the Poor Clare Rule. The monastery is a closed space, separated from the outside world, and the sisters live in strict seclusion. The enclosure is intended to foster concentration on the spiritual life by eliminating all distractions and temptations from the outside world.
This separation is not only physical, but also spiritual. It symbolizes the sisters' choice to live a life entirely dedicated to God, detached from material concerns and external relationships. The sisters leave the monastery only in exceptional circumstances, such as for urgent medical care. Similarly, contact with the outside world is limited. Visitors, whether relatives or members of the clergy, are received behind a gate, thus respecting the symbolic separation between the world and the monastery.
The enclosure also allows the sisters to maintain a space of silence and recollection, essential to their contemplative life. In this protected environment, they can concentrate entirely on their vocation of prayer and spiritual service.
An ascetic discipline
The Poor Clare Rule also imposes a strict ascetic discipline . The sisters are called to lead a life of simplicity and deprivation, thus imitating the sacrifices of Christ. This is reflected not only in their commitment to poverty, but also in their diet, clothing, and lifestyle. Meals are simple and frugal, and the sisters observe regular periods of fasting. Clothing is austere, without ornaments, reflecting their renunciation of the world and vanity.
This discipline is not intended to inflict unnecessary suffering, but to encourage spiritual purification. By renouncing the pleasures and comforts of material life, the sisters free themselves from earthly distractions and direct their minds and hearts toward God. Asceticism is seen as a path to greater closeness to God, a way of associating oneself with the sufferings of Christ and participating in his mission of redemption.
The Poor Clare Rule of Life is a text of great spiritual richness, combining a requirement of absolute poverty, unceasing prayer, and strict community life. Through obedience, enclosure, and rigorous ascetic discipline, the Poor Clares seek to imitate Christ in all aspects of their existence. This Rule, profoundly influenced by the example of Saint Francis and the unique vision of Clare of Assisi, has marked monastic history and continues to inspire many religious communities today. In living this Rule, the Poor Clares bear witness to a radical fidelity to the Gospel and an unceasing quest for holiness.
The expansion and branches of the Order
After Clare of Assisi's death in 1253, the Poor Clares expanded remarkably throughout Europe and beyond, attracting women of all backgrounds who wanted to embrace the life of poverty, prayer, and cloister according to Clare's teachings. However, over time, historical circumstances, specific needs, and internal reforms led to the formation of several distinct branches of the order, each reflecting different approaches to Clare's original ideals, but all united in their desire to live according to her example.
The expansion of the order after Claire's death
By the 13th century, the Poor Clare order had spread rapidly throughout Europe. Many monasteries were founded in countries such as France, Spain, Italy, and later in more distant regions such as Poland, Germany, and England. This expansion was facilitated by Clare's reputation for holiness and the great popularity of the Franciscan order founded by Francis of Assisi, whose Friars Minor often played a role in founding and supporting Poor Clare monasteries.
However, this rapid expansion also brought challenges. Living conditions in different countries and cultures, as well as political and economic pressures, led to variations in the interpretation of Clare's rule of life. Some monasteries sought to relax the strict requirements of poverty in order to ensure their subsistence, while others sought to preserve the original rigor of the order. These differences gradually led to the formation of distinct branches within the Poor Clares, each adopting its own approach to the rule and discipline.
The Poor Clares Urban Planners
One of the first branches to emerge was that of the Urbanist Poor Clares , which was created following the reform introduced by Pope Urban IV in 1263. Pope Urban IV modified Clare's rule to adapt it to the changing needs of the monasteries. While Clare's original rule imposed radical poverty, prohibiting any ownership of property, the Urbanist reform allowed monasteries to own land or income to ensure their subsistence.
This reform was intended to provide a practical solution to many monasteries that found it difficult to survive on alms alone. By allowing the ownership of communal property, Urban IV sought to ensure the sustainability of Poor Clare communities while maintaining a certain spiritual poverty. However, the urbanist branch has sometimes been criticized for moving away from the radical austerity advocated by Clare, even though they continued to live by principles of poverty and prayer.
The Urbanist Poor Clares became a dominant branch in many European countries and enabled the order to adapt to local realities, while maintaining a commitment to contemplative and community life.
The Capuchin Poor Clares
The reform of the Poor Clares Capuchins arose in the 16th century, in a context of spiritual renewal and reform of the Catholic Church, in response to internal criticism and the rise of the Protestant Reformation. The Capuchins take their name from the Capuchin branch of the Franciscan order, a reform movement that sought to restore the strict poverty and simplicity of the early Franciscans.
The Capuchin Poor Clares, founded in 1538 in Naples, took a similar approach, advocating a return to the rigor of the early Poor Clares. The Capuchin rule insisted on a strict observance of poverty , prayer, and enclosure. Capuchin monasteries were also characterized by greater austerity in daily life, a more radical renunciation of material goods, and rigorous discipline.
The Capuchins played an important role in the revival of the Poor Clare order, returning to its original spiritual and ascetic practices. Their influence quickly spread, particularly to France, Spain, Italy, and Latin America, where many Capuchin monasteries emerged. The Capuchin reform helped strengthen the order's spiritual commitment at a time of religious upheaval.
The Poor Clares Colettines
Another major reformed branch of the order is the Poor Clares Colettines , which arose in the 15th century under the leadership of Saint Colette of Corbie (1381–1447), a French nun who sought to restore the austerity of the original order. Saint Colette, who had joined the Poor Clare order as a reformer, introduced a series of reforms to restore the strict poverty, obedience, and community life in the spirit of the early Poor Clares.
The Colettine Poor Clares follow a very strict rule, similar to that advocated by Clare of Assisi herself. They insist on radical poverty , refusing the possession of collective or individual goods, and live a life of continuous prayer and renunciation of the world. The Colettines also maintain a rigorous observance of enclosure, limiting contact with the outside world and devoting themselves entirely to prayer and community life.
Saint Colette founded or reformed several monasteries in France, Spain, and other parts of Europe, creating a branch of the order that continues to exist today. Colette monasteries are known for their austerity and commitment to poverty, following the example of Clare and Colette.
Other branches and international expansions
In addition to these three main branches, the Poor Clare order has continued to diversify over the centuries. Some communities have adopted more flexible rules to adapt to local contexts, while others have remained faithful to strict poverty. This diversity within the order is a testament to the ability of the Poor Clares to respond to the spiritual and practical needs of different times and regions while remaining faithful to the essence of their vocation.
The Poor Clares also expanded beyond Europe , with missionaries arriving in the New World, Africa, and Asia. Poor Clare monasteries were founded in countries such as Mexico, Brazil, and later in North America, Japan, and India, contributing to the global expansion of the order.
The Poor Clares, through its various branches, embody a unique spiritual tradition marked by fidelity to the ideals of poverty and prayer instituted by Clare of Assisi. The Urbanists , Capuchins , and Colettines demonstrate the order's flexibility in the face of historical and cultural challenges, while remaining firmly anchored in Clare's vision. Each branch, through its reforms, has sought to address specific spiritual needs, whether to ensure the survival of the monasteries or to return to the original austerity of the order. Together, they continue to perpetuate Clare of Assisi's spiritual legacy throughout the world.
Claire's legacy and the life of the Poor Clares today
The legacy of Clare of Assisi and the life of the Poor Clares today is manifested by an unwavering fidelity to her ideals of poverty, prayer, and spiritual service. Canonized in 1255, Clare became a figure of Christian holiness whose spiritual impact has been felt throughout the centuries, well beyond her time. Her model of austere life, centered on total renunciation of material goods and a deep union with God, continues to inspire thousands of women around the world who join the Poor Clare order.
Claire's Spiritual Legacy
Clare of Assisi, by choosing radical poverty as her path to sanctification, helped redefine the role of women in the Church of her day. At a time when options for women were limited, she showed that they could play an active role in spiritual renewal through an uncompromising commitment to God. Her rule of life , centered on obedience, poverty, and prayer, influenced not only the Poor Clares but also other religious orders that adopted similar forms of monastic life.
Clare refused to compromise, notably by defending until the end the "Privilege of Poverty", despite pressure from some Church leaders who wanted to soften the strict rules imposed on her order. This earned her great admiration, not only during her lifetime, but also after her death. Her rapid canonization testifies to her immense spiritual influence and the recognition of her holiness by the universal Church.
The life of the Poor Clares today
Today, the Order of Poor Clares, which numbers several thousand nuns throughout the world, perpetuates Clare's legacy. Poor Clare monasteries are scattered across every continent, and although their lives are spent mostly apart from the world, in cloistered communities , they remain important figures of prayer and intercession for the Church and the world.
The contemplative and cloistered life
The Poor Clares continue to live a very austere lifestyle, in keeping with the spirit of Clare. Their day is punctuated by the Liturgy of the Hours , daily Mass, personal prayer and manual work. They live in strict enclosure, renouncing external activities to devote themselves fully to contemplation and prayer. This life of withdrawal is seen as a spiritual service for the Church and humanity, in which the sisters offer their prayers for the needs of the world, although they do not participate directly in social or charitable works.
The Poor Clares also insist on simplicity of life and the renunciation of material goods. Many monasteries live solely on alms and manual labor, often craft activities such as making hosts, liturgical vestments, or religious objects. This total dependence on divine providence reflects the ideal of absolute poverty advocated by Clare.
A global community
Despite the challenges of modernity and secularization, the Poor Clares remain present in more than 75 countries around the world. In Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Europe, their monasteries continue to flourish, and in some countries, such as the Philippines and Mexico, vocations to Poor Clare religious life are still numerous. This global presence keeps the spirit of Clare alive, even in cultures very different from medieval Europe where the order began.
Each Poor Clare community, although autonomous, is part of the Franciscan family and is often linked to the Friars Minor, the Capuchins, or the Conventual Franciscans, who support them spiritually and materially. This link with the Franciscan tradition allows the Poor Clares to remain connected to the spiritual developments of the Church while keeping their contemplative vocation intact.
Adaptation and modernity
While the rules of poverty and enclosure remain largely unchanged, some monasteries have made adaptations to meet the realities of the modern world. For example, several Poor Clare monasteries now use digital means to share their spirituality, sell their crafts, or share spiritual reflections. This allows these communities, despite their enclosure, to remain connected to the outside world while maintaining the physical and spiritual distance necessary for their vocation.
In addition, some communities have had to face situations of conflict or persecution, particularly in regions of Africa or the Middle East. Their fidelity to their vocation in these difficult contexts is seen as a testimony of faith and perseverance, in the mind of Claire, who herself lived in a period of political and social turbulence.
The importance of the Poor Clares in the contemporary Church
In today's Church, the Poor Clares play an invisible but crucial role as a prayer community for the world. Their existence, often ignored by the general public, is perceived by believers as a silent spiritual force that sustains the Church. Many Catholics request their prayers for particular intentions, considering that the sisters, through their lives of contemplation and renunciation, are particularly close to God.
Moreover, the Poor Clares embody a radical alternative to the dominant values of modern society. By rejecting materialism, consumerism and competition, they offer a model of life centered on self-giving, humility and the search for the divine presence. In an era marked by stress and the acceleration of the pace of life, their commitment to contemplation and simplicity appears as a prophetic reminder of fundamental Christian values.
The legacy of Clare of Assisi lives on through the Order of Poor Clares, who, through their commitment to poverty and prayer, perpetuate her message of faith and holiness. Despite the challenges of modernity, the Poor Clares remain faithful to their contemplative vocation and continue to play a vital role in the Church as silent witnesses to God’s presence in the world. Their monasteries, discreet but spiritually powerful, are places of uninterrupted prayer, embodying Clare’s spiritual legacy in every generation.
Conclusion
The Order of Poor Clares is a living testimony to the power of a radical commitment to following Christ. For over eight centuries, generations of women have dedicated their lives to prayer, poverty and contemplation, inspired by the figure of Clare of Assisi. Even today, the Poor Clare monasteries continue to be places of silence, prayer and dedication to God, faithful to the Franciscan ideal of simplicity and poverty.
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The Order of the Poor Clares on Wikipedia
