
We a have numerous churches that were named after Sta. Clara de Montefalco here in the Philippines because the Spanish Augustinians were the first Christian religious order that brought forth the beginning the conversion to Catholicism of our beloved country and Sta Clara de Montefalco was an Augustinian nun, herself.
Who was Saint Clare of Montefalco?

Clare was born into a wealthy family in 1268. At a very you age, she and her older sister, Joan, together with her friend, Andreola, lived as Franciscan tertiaries as part of the Secular Third Order of Saint Francis.
In 1290, Clare, her sister Joan, and their companions entered the monastic life in a more strict manner as the Third Order of St. Francis (Regular) with the help of Bishop of Spoleto who established their monastery in Montefalco according to the Rule of St. Augustine. This was when they made their vows to the three-fold rule of poverty, chastity, and obedience and became an Augustinian nun. Reluctant at first, Clare was elected as an abbess or head of an abbey of nuns when Joan, who had the position first, died in 1291.

Perhaps the most significant event in Clare’s spiritual life happened in 1294 when she fell in a state of trance for weeks where she could not eat. The other nuns took care of her by giving her water mixed with sugar make sure she stays alive. After that long and grueling experience, Clare began to have visions. She recounted one of her visions in which she was being appraised and judged in front of God. Another vision Clare had was an inconceivable encounter with Jesus.

She described His appearance as being dressed as a pitiful wanderer, carrying this large cross and looking like he is out of breath and fatigued. Clare got down to one of her knees and tried to stop Him. She then asked, “My Lord, where art Thou going?” Jesus answered her, “I have looked all over the world for a strong place where to plant this Cross firmly, and I have not found any”. After she reached for the cross, making known her desire to help Him carry it, He said to her, “Clare, I have found a place for My cross here. I have finally found someone to whom I can trust My cross,” and Jesus implanted it in her heart. The tremendous pain Clare endured at the time the crossed was placed in her heart stayed with her for the rest of her life. Yet, the extreme suffering did not deter her and she continued to serve her duty as an abbess. Clare died in 1318.
Following her death, her heart was removed from her body for inspection. It was stated that a crucifix and a scourge were found in her heart. She canonized on Dec. 8, 1881, by Pope Leo XIII.

Sta. Clara de Montefalco’s faith, persistence, and resolve are just some of the reasons why a few churches in the Philippines were named after her honor. Like the Sta. Clara de Montefalco church in Pasay City which is one of the oldest in the city having been founded during the Spanish era in 1864. Its parochial school was being governed by the RVM (Religious of the Virgin Mary) sisters.

As with old churches, it has gone through countless improvements and renovations. The addition of GreenMango’s Vento which is a simple, 5-blade, high-volume low-speed (HVLS) fan that comes in two sizes, 22 feet, and 16 feet. Vento is best for commercial spaces that demands comfort and wind speed. It’s suited for sports such as fitness clubs, gym/athletic training stadium, recreation & entertainment such as amusement park, zoos, children’s playground, traffic hubs such as airport, railway station, and bus station, commercial places such as function center, shops, restaurants, supermarkets, and others uses such as warehouses, factories, museums, and outdoor venues.
STA CLARA DE MONTEFALCO PARISH
The Sta. Clara de Montefalco Parish will continue to serve as the seed of faith of the people and be a symbol of unity, charity, and community — a heritage of tradition, culture, and history.

