on October 30, 2026
photos and report by Lee Strong, OFS
Secular Franciscans from multiple Fraternities gathered at Nacca Hall at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Auburn October 24 for a day of reflection led by Sister Margaret Carney, OSF, focusing on “St. Clare of Assisi: The First Franciscan Woman.”
The day was sponsored by Our Lady of the Angels Fraternity, Auburn.
Sister Margaret is the former president of St. Bonaventure University, and the librettist of the Francis: The Oratorio, which debuted in Buffalo October 10 and 11. She has extensively studied St. Clare, and is the author of Light of Assisi: The Story of St. Clare.
Sister Margaret began by highlighting St. Clare’s life and background. St. Clare was a member of the powerful and wealthy Offreduccio family. Like other young women of her class, she was being groomed for a life of marriage for political and financial reasons, including developing the skills need to manage a large household and, during times when her husband might be absent due to business or war, overseeing an estate. That training served her well later as she organized and oversaw a religious order.
St. Clare was influenced by St. Francis, and conferred with him at times, but she was devoutly religious on her own and was not a passive pupil; she survived him by 27 years. She fled her home to enter religious life, possible with the help of the Bishop of Assisi. In the years after the death of St. Francis, she had to contend with various bishops, cardinals, popes and ministers general of the Franciscan order who sometimes tried to exercise control over her order, including a push to own property. She managed to deflect those efforts to some degree, and to write a Rule for her order before she died.
Sister Margaret pointed out that in her efforts and in facing challenges, St. Clare provides a model for us. Her pattern of relationships included respect for others and for offices, a capacity to deal with differences and yet maintain relationships, and never threatening rebellion in response to differences. Like Francis, she emphasized fidelity to the Gospel and commitment to the Church.