St. Clare of Assisi gave-up her comfortable life to live like St. Francis in poverty and simplicity. She had an intense spiritual life and was very close to God during her final days on this earth.
Shortly after their deaths Thomas Celano wrote a biography about St. Francis and St. Clare. His writing is very poetic at times, as he sought to heavily spiritualize their remarkable lives.
St. Clare's miraculous vision
According to Celano, St. Clare was surrounded by her religious sisters as her health deteriorated and she was at the point of death.
He wrote how St. Clare began to speak to her soul:
But the most holy virgin adverting to her self, spoke to her own soul softly. "Go forth," she said, "without fear. For thou hast a good guide for thy journey. Go forth," she said, "for He who created thee hath sanctified thee and protecting thee always, loveth thee with a love as tender as that of a mother for her son. Blessed be Thou Lord," she said, "who hast created me."
A religious sister next to her asked her to whom she was speaking, which then led into a heavenly vision:
Clare replied, "I am speaking to my blessed soul." Nor was that glorious guide far distant. For turning to a certain daughter, she asked, "O daughter dost thou see the King of Glory whom I behold?" And the hand of the Lord came upon another one one of the Sisters and with her bodily eyes she beheld in her tears a blissful vision. Wounded with a dart of profound sorrow she directed her gaze toward the door of the house. And behold there entered a multitude of virgins clothed in white garments, all of whom wore golden crowns upon their heads. There walked one amongst them more resplendent than the rest, from whose crown which, in its uppermost part, had the appearance of a windowed thurible, such splendor shone forth within the house as to change the night itself into daylight. She advanced to the bed where the spouse of her Son lay and bending over her lovingly, embraced her most sweetly. A mantle of wondrous beauty was then brought forth by the virgins, and all working together with emulation, they covered the body of Clare and adorned the couch.
St. Clare died after this vision, having been "crowned" with a crown of heavenly glory.
It is a beautiful vision, one that we all hope to see in some way on the day of our death, as we await with joy the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ.
