You probably remember the Basilica of St. Clare, with the striped stone, the side chapel with the San Damiano cross and the impatient guards?
Here is a link to an article that tells the story of her leaving her home to renounce everything and eventually found the order of women religious now known as the Poor Clares.
Right at the beginning of the article, it mentions the Cathedral of San Rufino, the one where St. Francis was baptized. That's the one with the clear areas of the floor that showed excavations, and the not well done animal carvings outside.
You might not have noticed, but there was a tiny chapel notched into the building just to the left of San Rufino (facing the church). This marked the family home of Clare. And later in the story, she is taken to the Porziuncola- which is now that small stone chapel with the large Basilica of St Mary of the Angels, down in the valley (where we celebrated Sunday mass). It's neat to be able to read that article with the places in mind, isn't it?
Santa Chiara, pray for us!
