St Clare 1193-1253 - Patron Saint of Needleworkers

If you aspire to become a saint in order to get a head

start you should have been born in Assisi, Italy as

the town boasts not one, but two to it's name.

And how spooky is this - they actually knew each other!

Assisi by night but no clubbing for Clare or Francis I'm afraid

Clare di Faverone (St Clare) became a follower of

Francis de Bernadone (St Francis) and at the tender age

of eighteen she turned her back on her privileged

upbringing and decided to take the veil.

End of story, or so you might expect, had she not fallen

ill and taken the needle too.  No Alice dear, she didn't

become a junkie supplied by old St F, she became an

embroidress of course like so many of us when faced

with sickness and adversity, me included.

Our patron saint.  Wonder what make of frame that is?

So for the final thirty years of her life, often propped up in

bed (been there, done that, got the duvet cover), she 

stitched away.  And on good days she even spun flax into

thread to make her own fine linen.  That's probably what

made her a saint.  Sod that, say I, but then I would as I've

been a devout sinner from birth.

Example of Assisi work

Novenas, thus called because they are "woven" out over 

nine successive days, should only be addressed to St Clare 

if you wish to call upon her assistance in misfortune,

anxiety and distress and should begin:

"O Glorious St Clare etc ....."

That explains the oil stains - she would wipe
the bottom of that lamp with her work.

However if you prefer to crack open a bottle to celebrate

the feast day of our patron you need to make a note in

your diary for 11th August and don't forget to have a word

with your wine merchant well in advance as a really good

bottle of that old sixties favourite, Blue Nun, isn't always

that easy to come by.  Cheers m'dears!