august 11. clare of assisi, patron of tv
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Patron saint of sore eyes, eye disease, goldsmiths, laundry, embroiderers, gilders, good weather, needleworkers, Santa Clara Pueblo, technology, telephones, telegraphs, television
Lived 1194 to 1253 Canonized 1255 Before Clare was born, a disembodied voice foretold that her mother would give birth to a bright light that would illuminate the world. When she was 12 or 17 or 18, Clare was inspired to lead a Jesus-like existence upon hearing Saint Francis preach. In 1993, Pope John Paul II (feminist extraordinaire) described her as a "'little plant' in the shadow of Saint Francis, who led her to the heights of Christian perfection." On Palm Sunday in 1212, arrayed as a bride, Clare fled to the woods in the night where Saint Francis and his friars dwelt. There, he initiated her. He gave her a reverse makeover, scissoring her hair,swapping her jeweled belt for a plain rope, and outfitting her in a rough tunic and heavy veil. This was the last day the world beheld Clare. Later, her father and uncles stormed the Benedictine convent where Francis had tucked her away, wherein she clung to the altar and threw back her veil to reveal her cropped hair. At Saint Francis' behest, she soon formed the Poor Clares or Poor Ladies, a sisterhood of barefoot women who lived in seclusion on alms and slept on hard floors. To avoid the sins of the tongue, the sisters seldom spoke. The Poor Ladies "wanted to be brides of Christ" and/or wed themselves to the Holy Spirit. HOT CROSS BUNS? When Clare blessed bread loaves crosses appeared on them; when she made the sign of the cross over an ailing person, that person was healed. She loved the crucified Christ so fiercely that "the hard bed of the cross [became her] sweet nuptial bed." When Assisi was under attack, Clare held a Eucharist up in her window. Fear-stricken, the soldiers retreated. PATRON SAINT OF TELEVISION When Saint Clare was bedridden and unable to attend masses in person, The Holy Spirit "projected" live footage on her bedchamber wall. |