Saint of the Day – 10 February – Blessed Clare Agolanti of Rimini OSC (1282-1346)

Saint of the Day – 10 February – Blessed Clare Agolanti of Rimini OSC (1282-1346) Married, Widowed, Nun., Penitent, Mystic. Born as Chiara Agolanti in 1282 at Rimini, Italy and died on 10 February 1344 at Rimini, Italy of natural causes.

Chiara Agolanti was born to a wealthy family of Rimini. Married at a young age, she was sent into exile upon the death of her husband. Upon her return, she witnessed the horrifying hanging of her father and brother by a rival political faction. She remarried and soon fell a prey to the dangers to which her youth and beauty exposed her, and began to lead a life of sinful dissipation.

One day when she was attending Mass in the Church of the Franciscan Friars, she seemed to hear a mysterious voice that bade her say an Our Father and a Hail Mary at least once with fervour and attention. Clare obeyed the command, not knowing from where it came and then began to reflect upon her life.

She made the decision to enter into the Third Order of Saint Francis, resolving to expiate her sins by a life of penance. She soon became a model of every virtue but more especially of charity towards the destitute and afflicted.

She abandoned her life of luxury and established a convent for a group of women under her direction. When the Poor Clares were compelled to leave Regno on account of the prevailing wars, it was mainly through the exertions of Clare that they were able to obtain a Convent and means of sustenance at Rimini.

Later, Clare herself entered the Order of Poor Clares Nuns, along with several other pious women and became Prioress of the Convent of Our Lady of the Angels at Rimini. She is believed to have worked numerous miracles and towards the close of her life to have been favoured in an extraordinary manner with the gift of contemplation.

Her body is now in the cathedral of Rimini.

On 22 December 1784 her cutus was confirmed by Pope Pius VI.