Clare of Assisi: Gentle Warrior

by Wendy Murray

Clare of Assisi is generally known as “the female friend” of Saint Francis of Assisi and for centuries her legacy has remained obscured by his shadow. Yet Clare’s life and story ought to shine in its own light and on its own terms (her name, after all, means “light”). She is a figure of true heroism, tenacity, beatitude and grit who plotted her improbable course in the context of the raucous and explosive period of the Middle Ages. Much went wrong for Clare after the day when, as a teen, she fled the home of her noble and wealthy family to follow Francis in a life of poverty. No one would have begrudged her if, when the trials had become onerous, she had decided simply to “go home.” Yet she stayed the course, even after Francis had died. She pulled from the fire of her trials embers that would become her crown. In this new book, Wendy Murray digs deeply into Clare’s decision to abandon rank and wealth for allegiance to Christ (and in no small way, Francis) and explores the circumstances which, later on, tested Clare’s devotion. Clare’s curious and vivid spiritual vision galvanized her ability to persevere amid difficult circumstances and enabled her to stay her course and lay claim to a legacy that shines brightly among the host of medieval saints.

Genres: Biography, Catholic, Christianity, Spirituality, History

272 pages, Paperback

Published July 21, 2020

About the author

Murray launched her career in the writing industry 25 years ago, starting as a freelance writer for a local paper. Her work immediately caught the eye of major media outlets resulting in her serving as a regional reporter for Time magazine in the early 1990s. Thereafter she worked for 10 years with a national magazine, first as an editor and staff writer, and later as Senior Writer. She has published 10 books through mainstream publishing houses.

Her eleventh book and debut novel, came out in Jan. 2011 and won favorable reviews.
She has taught journalism, feature writing, and screenplay writing at the college level for several years; has published memoirs, fiction and nonfiction books.

Ecco Qua Press crowns her life-long career as a writer and journalist.

Reviews

[Joy Matteson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very accessible short biography of Clare of Assisi. Murray has done extensive research in Assisi regarding both Clare and St Francis, and the scant knowledge we have of a devout medieval woman in her time is as clear as it can possibly be to a modern interpretation. I appreciated the translated letters that Clare wrote at the end of the book, they were fascinating.

[Gerri Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book includes an intriguing exploration of the relationship between Clare and Francis that has been downplayed in hagiographic accounts. Much to think about here.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book totally captured me - and about a saint I never thought much about. Murray has done her research - and there ain't much about Clare - and suggest that Clare and Francis were talking and growing a friendship and a deep, spiritual-and-romantic crush, in the style of courtly love, which then led Francis to start rebuilding San Damiano as a convent for women. She finds signs and hints of Clare very early in Francis's conversion, which I thought made sense for a woman who had a spine of iron but mostly deflected attention away from herself, always, to point to Francis and Jesus instead. Also, three popes (four?) came to visit her at her monastery. What?!? And she kept telling them she would not do what they commanded her. Yeah, now I'm kind of obsessed with Clare.

[Elizabeth Felicetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook, read by the author, and it's so good I ordered from my favorite local indie. Not a hagiography, and the author puts forth some of her own opinions with support, including a relationship between Francis and Clare earlier than the current standard belief, as well as a case for a document supposedly written by three men actually written by Clare.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

An examination of Clare that shows her as her own person, an independent mind working against societal expectations in 13th century Italy. The author also works (and sometimes reaches) to recover the strong connection between Clare and Francis that the early Church extinguished or downplayed.

[Veronica Basel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview of St Clare and St Francis. Was amazing to read after I visited Assisi!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about a remarkable woman, ahead of her time.