Santa Clara de Asís celebrated on August 11

On August 11, the Catholic Church honors Santa Clara de Asís, a 13th-century noblewoman who renounced wealth to follow Saint Francis and founded the Poor Clares. Her feast is also observed by Lutheran and Anglican traditions Source: El Mundo. Clara is remembered for her devotion to poverty, her role as the first woman to write a religious rule for women, and her mystical vision of a Christmas Mass from afar Source: El Mundo, Excélsior. In 1958, Pope Pius XII proclaimed her patroness of television and telecommunications, linking her patronage to that vision Source: Excélsior.

Key facts

• Clara left her wealthy family at 18 to embrace evangelical poverty, establishing the Order at San Damián Source: Excélsior.
• She is credited with repelling Saracen invaders by displaying the Blessed Sacrament Source: Excélsior.
• She died in 1253 and was canonized two years later by Pope Alexander IV Source: El Mundo.

Other saints

August 11 also commemorates several other saints and blesseds, including San Equicio, Santa Atracta, and Beato Mauricio Tornay Source: Infobae.

Devotion

Devotees pray to Santa Clara for mental clarity, healing of eye ailments, and family peace, especially those in communications and media Source: Excélsior. A prayer to her asks for peace and daily sustenance Source: Excélsior.