Clothed with Gladness

The living embodiment of the prophecy given to Francis that holy ladies would one day glorify the entire Church by living at the monastery of San Damiano, St. Clare was among the first to adopt the Franciscan way of life. A saint as enchanting today as she was in her own time, she is the only person who perfectly embodied the vision of Francis, living out her vocation with his same poetic literalness. This delightfully drawn portrait sketches St. Clare in warm, human tones while carefully illuminating her overwhelming reputation for sanctity, her deep friendship with Francis, and her own spiritual development.