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Image Our Church is placed under the patronage of St. Clare, who in her spiritual life was closely associated with St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the great order of Friars Minor that bears his name, known as the Franciscans
St ClareOn Palm Sunday 1212 A.D. Clare was inspired by God to dedicate her life to the rule of the Franciscans - a rule renowned for the strict practise of Evangelical poverty. She did this in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels at Assisi in the presence of St. Francis. This was the beginning of the order of Poor Clares. Clare was renowned for her great devotion to the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. For much of her life she suffered greatly from poor health, yet she ruled her convent with great charity and wisdom for 42 years. She died in 1253 A.D. being visited as she was dying by Pope Innocent IV who gave her absolution and said, "I wish I had as little need for absolution as she has". Her mortal remains are buried in the great Church in Assisi that bears her name.