Clare of Rimini

Clare of Rimini (c. 1260 – 10 February c. 1326) was an Italian holy woman who was beatified.

She was born to a wealthy family and married at a young age. She was sent into exile when her husband died, witnessed the political execution of her father and brother, and remarried. She received a calling after attending Mass and founded a penitential community. Her feast day is 10 February.

Life Chiara was born to a wealthy family of Rimini. Married at a young age, she was sent into exile with her family. Upon her return, she witnessed the execution of her father and brother by a rival political faction. She remarried and lived a life of pleasure and dissipation.

According to Stephen Donovan, one day when she was 34, she attended 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. 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 means of sustenance at Rimini. The most important modern scholarship on Clare has been the work of Jacques Dalarun, including a new critical edition of her fourteenth-century Italian vita, and a recent English translation.