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Catholic – St. Clare of Assissi – Feast Day August 11th

StClareAssissi-HolyCardSt. Clare of Assissi:

QUICK FACTS ABOUT ST. CLARE:

    • She was born in Assisi, Italy, in 1194 to a wealthy family.   Her father was a cloth merchant and her mother was a devout Catholic.
    • She was greatly inspired by the example of St. Francis of Assisi to give up her wealth and possessions to live a life of poverty and service to others.
    • In 1212, Clare secretly left her home and family to join St. Francis and his followers. She was initially refused entry into the order, but St. Francis eventually relented and allowed her to join.
    • She founded the Order of Poor Clares in 1212, a religious order for women dedicated to following the teachings of St. Francis.
    • She wrote a rule for the order that emphasized poverty, simplicity, and obedience.
    • She was a gifted mystic and had a close relationship with God.  She often experienced visions and ecstasies. She also had a gift for healing the sick and the dying.
    • Just two days before Clare of Assisi died, Pope Innocent IV’s papal bull, Solet annuere, written August 9, 1253, confirmed that Clare’s rule would serve as the governing rule for her community of Poor Ladies at San Damiano.
    • Two days later, Clare died at the age of 59. Her remains were interred at the chapel of San Giorgio (where St. Francis’s remains had initially lain) while an adjacent basilica to hold her relics was being constructed.  It was eventually relocated to her own chapel.
    • She was canonized as a saint in 1255.
    • For roughly six centuries, the body of St. Clare lay buried deep under the high altar of her basilica.
    •  in 1850, Pope Pius IX granted permission that excavations be made to search for the body of Clare.
    • the stone coffin containing her body was found. When it was opened, it was discovered that St. Clare’s body, though blackened with age, was still incorrupt. She was buried with her poor tunic in addition to the rule that she had written.
    • Her remains were put into a crystal coffin, which was placed in a newly constructed crypt (completed in 1872) within the basilica. The feast of the Finding of the Body of St. Clare, which was instituted by Pope Pius IX, is celebrated by the Franciscans and Conventuals, as well as the Poor Clares.

  • In time, Saint Clare's remains began to deteriorate; thus, a mask was constructed to cover her remains, which were soon reduced to bones. The mask can be seen by the public today, while her actual relics can be seen only by the sisters who have access to the rear of the crypt.


What happened during the Carolingian Renaissance?

Changes During the Late 8th and 9th Centuries:

The Carolingian Renaissance was a period of cultural revival in Europe during the late 8th and 9th centuries. It was led by Charlemagne, the King of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor, who sought to revive the learning and culture of the Roman Empire.

During the Carolingian Renaissance, there was a renewed interest in classical literature, philosophy, and science. Manuscripts were copied and preserved, usually by monks, and new schools were founded.

Carolingian minuscule or Caroline minuscule is a script which developed as a calligraphic standard in the medieval European period so that the Latin alphabet of Jerome's Vulgate Bible could be easily recognized by the literate class from one region to another. It is thought to have originated before AD 778 at the scriptorium of the Benedictine monks of Corbie Abbey, about 150 km (93 mi) north of Paris, and then developed by Alcuin of York for wide use in the Carolingian Renaissance

The Carolingian Renaissance also saw a flowering of art and architecture. New churches and palaces were built, and illuminated manuscripts were produced. Carolingian art was characterized by its use of geometric shapes, bright colors, and intricate designs.

The Carolingian Renaissance had a lasting impact on European culture. It helped to preserve classical knowledge and to lay the foundations for the Renaissance of the 14th and 15th centuries.

Below is a List of Specific Events During the Carolingian Renaissance:

  • Charlemagne founded the Palace School at Aachen, which became a center of learning and culture.
  • Alcuin of York, a renowned scholar, was invited to the Palace School by Charlemagne. Alcuin helped to revive classical learning and to standardize the curriculum of the schools.
  • The Carolingian minuscule script was developed during this period. This script was clear, elegant, and easy to read, and it became the standard script for manuscripts throughout Europe.
  • New churches and palaces were built in the Carolingian style. These buildings were characterized by their use of geometric shapes, bright colors, and intricate designs.
  • Illuminated manuscripts were produced during this period. These manuscripts were decorated with beautiful illustrations and calligraphy.
    Carolingian scholars translated classical works into Latin, making them more accessible to scholars and students.
  • Carolingian scholars wrote new works on a variety of subjects, including history, philosophy, and science.
  • The Carolingian Renaissance was a time of great cultural and intellectual achievement. It helped to preserve classical learning and to lay the foundations for the Renaissance of the 14th and 15th centuries.