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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 June 2022
St Clare died on II August 1253, and the celebration of her seventh centenary in 1953 was accompanied by a revival of scholarly interest in her life and work scarcely to be paralleled since the Bollandists passed through August. Grau established the canon of her writings and published an annotated German translation: Hardick fixed the chronology of her life—born in 1193-4, received into the religious life at the age of 18 in 1212; from 1212 to 1253 head and leader (from 1216 abbess) of the community in San Damiano. Much else occurred besides in 1953 in scholarly publication and popular festivity; and little perhaps remains to be discovered about her life and works.
1 In this study the following abbreviations are used:
For a general view of Clare and the early history of her Order, see Moorman, [J.R.H.], [The Franciscan Order from its Origins to the year 1517] (Oxford 1968) pp 32–9, 205–15Google Scholar. On the wider context, see the classic study of Grundmann: chapters 3-6 deal specifically with the religious movements among women and the Frauenfrage; pp 253-71 with the early Franciscan sisters, including Clare herself; pp 274 seq develop the study of the relations of the mendicant orders and their female communities. See also Bolton, B., ‘ Mulieres sanctae ’ SCH 10 (1973) pp 77–95.Google Scholar
The main products of 1953 were: S. Chiara d’Assisi, 1253-1953; Studi e Cronaca del VII Centenario (Assisi 1954); Grau, [E.] and Hardick, [L.], [Leben und Schriften der heiligen Klara von Assisi] (1 ed actually 1952; 3 ed Werl 1960)Google Scholar and the English version The legend and writings of St Clare (St Bonaventure, New York, 1953), including a revised version of Robinson’s, P. translation—Hardick’s study of Clare also appeared in French translation in Spiritualité de Sainte Claire (Paris 1961)Google Scholar; AFH 46 (1953) esp pp 3-43, Fortini, A., ‘Nuove notizie intorno a S. Chiara di Assisi’; FStn 35 (1953)Google Scholar esp L. Hardick on the chronology of her life, pp 174-210, and E. Grau on the influence of St Francis’s Regula Bullata on St Clare’s rule of 1253, pp 211-73. For the rules, her writings and other early sources see nn 3-5.
2 See refs to Grandmami and B. Bolton in n I. Compare Brooke, C. N. L. and Swaan, W., The Monastic World (London 1974) pp 177–8, 254 (cap 11 n 2)Google Scholar. For the very rapid growth of Cistercian houses of nuns in Germany in the thirteenth century see maps and index to Meer, F. Van der, Atlas de l’Ordre Cistercien (Amsterdam/Brussels 1965)Google Scholar; some corrections by Krausen, E. and Zakar, P., ASOC 22 (1966) pp 279–90Google Scholar; Vongrey, F. and Hervay, F., ASOC 23 (1967) pp 115–27Google Scholar. On Cistercian nuns see also n 13.
3 Canonisation process, ed F Lazzeri, AFH 13 (1920) pp 403-507, esp 451–2, 455–6, 471; Legenda caps 21–2, pp 30–1. These are the chief sources for Clare’s life. The process was also edited (modern Italian) by Vian, N., Il processo di S. Chiara d’Assisi (Milan 1962)Google Scholar. For editions of Legenda see n I: Legenda pp xiii seq discuss the attribution to Thomas of Celano and produce verbal parallels to his lives of Francis on pp xviii-xxvi; see also on the sources Fasslinder, M., FStn 23 (1936) pp 296–335Google Scholar, esp pp 321 seq on Celano’s authorship (which has been generally accepted in recent studies, though it is far from certain). Modern lives are legion: there is still useful material in Gilliat-Smith, [E.], [St Clare of Assisi] (London/Toronto 1914)Google Scholar and relevant chapters of the lives of St Francis by Paul Sabatier and Father Cuthbert; among recent biographies F. Casolini, Chiara d’Assisi (Assisi 1953, 3 ed 1954) is the best documented we have seen of those produced in 1953; there is a useful brief summary and bibliography by L. Hardick in NCE 3 (1967) p 913; and see n 1.
4 See excellent summary in Moorman pp 211-15; the most important are edited from the original bulls in Eubel, pp 234-7 (Gregory IX, reissuing in 1239 in revised form his own earlier, lost, rule), 241-6 (Innocent IV, 1247), 251-7 (Innocent IV’s confirmation of St Clare’s rule, 1253), 269-75 (Urban IV, 1263)—we have made up the number six by adding Urban IV’s confirmation in 1263 of the ‘Isabelline’ rule of 1252 to the two of Hugolino and Gregory, two of Innocent IV and one of Urban IV Usted here; but the computation is somewhat arbitrary since there were presumably only minor differences between the first two, and certainly no more between 1239 and 1247. On the rules see esp Oliger, F. in AFH 5 (1912) pp 181–209, 413–47Google Scholar (esp on the rule of 1218-19 pp 193 seq.); M. Fasslinder in FStn 23 (1936) pp 306 seq.
5 Wadding, [L.], Annales [Minorum] 2 (Lyon 1628) pp 46–9Google Scholar (=1253 cap v), whence ASB, August II, pp 747-8, Seraphicae legislations textus originales (Quaracchi 1897) pp 273-80. On its authenticity see Robinson, P. in AFH 3 (1910) pp 442–6Google Scholar, citing also a fifteenth-century French and a sixteenth-century Italian version; Fasslinder, M., FStn 23 (1936) pp 304–6Google Scholar; 5. Chiara d’Assisi 1253-1953, pp 519-20. Apart from the Rule and Testament, Clare’s only substantial surviving writings are her letters to B. Agnes of Bohemia, AFH 17 (1924) PP 509-19, also S. Chiara d’Assisi 1253-1953, pp 132-43, with Italian translation: see Grau and Hardick for full bibliography.
6 Rule of St Clare, cap vi (33), ed Eubel pp 254-5.
7 There is a notable absence of grammatical error in the Regula Bullata. Minor errors can be discerned in Francis’s autograph and it was alleged that he deliberately allowed errors to appear in his Latin.
8 Wadding, Annales, 2, p 47.
9 2 Celano 13.
10 For the known sources of 2 Celano, see SL introduction esppp 73-6; Moorman, J. R. H., The Sources for the Life of S. Francis of Assisi (Manchester 1940, repr Farnborough 1966) esp pp 90 seq, 110–27.Google Scholar
11 AFH 13 (1920) pp 452, 459, 464, 480, 488, 489 (speaks of secret meetings), 493; Legenda caps 5–6, pp 8–10; 1 Celano 18 echoed in SL no 109, p 280.
12 Grundmann pp 43 seq; Brooke, [R. B.], [The Coming of the] Friars (London 1975) pp 57–8Google Scholar and refs; Walter, J. von, Die ersten Wanderprediger Frankreichs, 1 (Leipzig 1903).Google Scholar
13 Our own knowledge of this subject owes much to work being undertaken by Mrs S Thompson (above pp 227–52). See also n 1.
14 Brooke, Friars, pp 58-9, esp p 59 and n 1 and refs; MGH SS 12 pp, 657, 659; Grundmann p 48 nn 78-9.
15 Ed Walz, [A.], M[onumenta] O[rdinis] P[raedicatorum] H[istorica] 16 (Paris 1935) pp 89–194Google Scholar (text pp 123 seq; see esp pp 181-2, Toulouse depositions caps 15-17, on women’s evidence); compare Brooke, Friars, pp 177 seq, esp p 102.
16 Beati Iordarti de Saxonia Epistulae, ed Walz, MOPH, 23 (1951).
17 [ Cuthbert, Father], [Life of St Francis of Assisi] (2 ed London 1913) p 172 and n.Google Scholar
18 In Hugolino’s rule, for which see n 4. On Hugolino’s relations with Clare see below at nn 35-8 and his letter of 1218-19 in AF 3 (1910) p 183 (compare The Legend and Writings of St Clare, pp 111-13).
19 SL nos 42–3 and 45, pp 162–7,170–1; compare Sabatier, [P.], Vie [de S. François d’Assise] (Paris 1893–4) cap 18Google Scholar; Cuthbert pp 418–25.
20 Actus [b. Francisci et sociorum eius], ed P. Sabatier (Paris 1902) cap 16, pp 55–9 (=Fioretti cap 16); compare the neighbour story cap 15, Actus pp 52-4.
21 See esp Burkitt, F. C., ‘Fonte Colombo and its Traditions’, in Burkitt, and others, Franciscan Essays 2 (British Society of Franciscan Studies, 1932) pp 41–55Google Scholar. Compare SL pp 110–11 and III n 1, 134–7, 186–9, 284–7 (compare pp 60 seq).
22 For what follows see Lettres de Jacques de Vitry, ed R. B. C. Huygens (Leiden 1960) no 1, pp 71–8 (on Humiliati pp 72–3; on the Franciscans pp 75–6; on the date p 52). For later comments on Francis and his order see no 6, pp 131–3 (1220); Vitry, Jacques de, Historia Occidentalis, ed Hinnebusch, J. F. Spic Fr 17 (Fribourg 1972) pp 158–63Google Scholar. On the Humiliati, see Grundmann pp 72–91; Bolton, B., “Innocent III’s treatment of the Humiliati ’, SCH 8 (1972) pp 73–82Google Scholar; and ‘Sources for the early history of the Humiliati’, SCH 11 (1975) pp 125–33, (p 125 for bibliography, p 129 for Jacques de Vitry).
23 Cuthbert, p 161 and n 2. But compare Sabatier, Vie, p 150 and n 1, who simply disbelieves Celano.
24 Legenda caps 9–10, 24–6 (esp caps 25–6), pp 14–16, 33–7 (esp 35–7).
25 AFH 13 (1920) pp 487–8, 491–3.
26 I Celano pp 12–15; Legenda trium sociorum, ASB, October 2 (ed of 1866 pp 723–42) cap 6 (20).
27 Compare SL no 92, pp 248–53; compare Brooke, C., Medieval Church and Society, (London 1971) p 205.Google Scholar
28 Opuscula pp 78-9.
29 AFH 13 (1920) pp 443, 487, 491-2; compare Legenda cap 1, pp 4-5.
30 B. Bolton in SCH 11, esp pp 131-2; compare Grundmann, pp 158-69.
31 AFH 13 (1920) p 490.
32 Ibid p 443; Legenda cap 1, pp 4–5.
33 Brooke, Friars, pp 86–8, 160–1 and refs; Mansi 22, cols 998–9, 1002–3.
34 SL no 114, pp 286–9 (compare pp 59–60); Brooke, [R. B.], [Early Franciscan] Government (Cambridge 1959) pp 72–3, 286 seq.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
35 On Hugolino as legate, Brooke, Government, pp 59 seq, esp pp 62-7, 286; Brem, E., Papst Gregor IX bis zum Beginn seines Pontifikats (Heidelberg 1911) esp pp 26 seq, III seq.Google Scholar
36 See n 4.
37 Eubel pp 234-7; compare p 234 n 1 and refs.
38 Ibid p 234; see refs in n 4 for commentary.
39 See n 17; brother Philip was visitor for a while in and after 1219, but was removed after Francis’s return from the east in 1221 for acting beyond his instructions; he was, however, visitor for a long period in later years—AF 10 p 21 n 12 (note to 1 Celano cap 25), and refs; Moorman pp 13, 32, 38n.
40 This is implicit in her Rule—explicit indeed in her claim in the Testament to have had the privilege of poverty from Innocent III as well as Innocent IV. On this much of the discussion of the authenticity of the Testament has turned (see refs in n 5); we need not doubt that Clare believed she had this privilege from Innocent III, just as we cannot doubt Francis believed that the same pope had confirmed his Rule. Gregory IX also confirmed the privilege, for San Damiano alone.
41 Legenda caps 40–2, pp 56–60, esp pp 56–7, pp 44, pp 61–2; for her death and funeral, conducted by the pope and cardinals. Legenda caps 45–8, pp 62–72.
42 Solet annuere, 9 August 1253, Eubel pp 251-7; this was also for San Damiano alone.
43 See Grau, E. in FStn 35 (1953) pp 211–73Google Scholar; the Rule of St Clare and its main sources are conveniently laid out in Gilliat-Smith pp 287–305.
44 What follows is the version in the Rule, Eubel pp 254–5; for the closely parallel passage in the Testament, Wadding, Annales 2 pp 46-9 (=1253 cap v). See p 277 and n 6.
45 Curam diligentem, which could mean ‘loving care’.
46 Francis’s Testament, Opuscula p 79.
47 See esp Brooke, Government pp 59–76 and SL pp 59–60; also the refs cited in n 18 above, and AFH 13 (1920) p 452.
48 AFH 13 (1920) pp 403–507 passim; compare Legenda esp caps 19–20, pp 27–9.
