Saint Clare of Assisi, born Chiara Offreduccio on July 16, 1194 is an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. She founded the Order of Poor Ladies, a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition. Following her death on August 11, 1253, the order she founded was renamed in her honor as the Order of Saint Clare, commonly referred to today as the Poor Clares.  Clare was canonized two years after her death and thousands of women still follow her inspiration as Poor Clares around the world.

On March 20, 1212, Clare's parents had decided she would marry a wealthy young man. In desperation Clare escaped her home and sought refuge with St. Francis.  Her sister, Agnes, also left her parents and followed Clare to Sant'Angelo.  Clare and Agnes soon moved to the church of San Damiano. Other women joined them there, and they lived a simple life of great poverty, austerity and complete seclusion from the world, according to a Rule which Francis gave them as a Second Order (Poor Clares).  The women were at first known as the "Poor Ladies".

 

San Damiano became the focal point for Clare's new religious order, which was known in her lifetime as the "Order of San Damiano."   San Damiano was acknowledged as the most important house in the order, and Clare became its undisputed leader. By 1263, just ten years after Clare's death, the order became known as the Order of Saint Clare.