Order of Saint Clare

The Order of Saint Clare, also known as the Poor Clares, is a religious community of women within the Catholic Church founded in 1253 by Saint Clare of Assisi. Members dedicate their lives to prayer, meditation, and living in simplicity and poverty, following the example of Saint Clare and Saint Francis of Assisi. They typically live in cloistered monasteries, focusing on spiritual development and serving others through charitable work. The order emphasizes a life of humility, community, and devotion to God, maintaining a contemplative lifestyle while adhering to vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.