The Poor Clare Nuns

St. Louis, Missouri

When St. Francis of Assisi began his new form of religious life in the 13th century, his first woman follower was a beautiful young noblewoman named Clare. She embraced his ideal of Gospel living in most high poverty and became the first woman to write a religious rule, based on St. Francis's rule for his brothers.

While the brothers went out to preach the Gospel, St. Clare and her sisters lived the Franciscan ideal in the silence of the cloister, offering their prayers and sacrifices for the needs of the Church.

Today the Poor Clares still follow the example of St. Clare in devoted loyalty to the Church and to the Holy Father, living a life of prayer and worship, and a community life of sisterly love, simplicity, poverty and joyful penance. They wear a full-length brown/grey habit girded with a cord, white head coverings and a black veil. Their daily prayer comprises Holy Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office), periods of silent prayer, the rosary and other traditional devotions.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is one of the focal points of the life of the nuns. In addition to the many times when all the sisters gather in the chapel for the liturgy, each sister spends a period of time kneeling in silent adoration of her Beloved in the tabernacle.

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Webmaster: Kevin J. Banet