An Annotated Bibliography of Printed and Online Primary Sources for the Middle Ages

Clare of Assisi (Chira Offreduccio) Saint
lived c. 1194-1253

Clare of Assisi, born into a well to-do family as Chiara Offreduccio, was inspired by the preaching of Francis of Assisi to escape from her family’s house to enter the Benedictine monastery of San Paolo delle Abbadesse under Francis’ care. After seeing her tonsured hair and realizing her commitment to the monastery and Francis, Clare’s family disowned her. Shortly thereafter, Francis had Clare moved to the Monastery of Sant’Angelo di Panzo nearby San Damiano outside Assisi. Eventually, her sisters Catherine and Beatrice, her mother Ortolana, and her niece Balbina also joined Claire’s Order of Poor Ladies, based at Sant’Angelo di Panzo. Gaining papal recognition for the Order and its Franciscan way of life was a life-long struggle for Clare; she was finally able to obtain the Privilege of Poverty and full approval for the Order, known as the Poor Clares, in 1253.

For additional information, see:

• Joan Mueller, Clare’s Letters to Agnes, Texts and Sources (St. Bonaventure, NY: St. Bonaventure University, 2001)

• Wikipedia

• Catholic Encyclopedia

OMSB Records by Clare of Assisi:

• Armstrong, Regis J., ed., trans.; Brady, Ignatius C., ed., trans.; Vaughn, John, ed., Francis and Clare: The Complete Works (New York: Paulist Press, 1982).
• Holloway, Julia Bolton, ed., St. Clare of Assisi: Privilege of Poverty II: Regulae Sanctae Clarae (Julian of Norwich, Her Showing of Love and Its Contexts Website, 1997/2004).
• Mueller, Joan, ed., trans., Clare of Assisi: The Letters to Agnes (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2003).
• Petroff, Elizabeth Alvilda, ed., Medieval Women's Visionary Literature (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986).
• Ferrante, Jean, et. al., Epistolae (Columbia University, 2003).
• McMillan, Douglas J., ed.; Smith Fladenmuller, Kathryn, ed., Regular Life: Monastic, Canonical, and Mendicant Rules (TEAMS Documents of Practice Series. Kalamazoo: Medieval Institute Publications., 1997).
• Mueller, Joan, ed., trans.; Fleming, Julia, trans., Clare's Letters to Agnes: Texts and Sources (St. Bonaventure, NY: The Franciscan Institute, St. Bonaventure University, 2001).
• Armstrong, Regis J., ed., trans., Clare of Assisi: Early Documents (New York: Paulist Press, 1988).
• Holloway, Julia Bolton, ed., St. Clare of Assisi: Privilege of Poverty I (Julian of Norwich, Her Showing of Love and Its Contexts Website, 1997/2004).