The Women Of The 13th Century : St. Clare of Assisi

If the ordinary person were asked to enumerate the great women of the thirteenth century, it would be rare to find one able properly to place them, as soon as their names are mentioned, it will be recognized that they succeeded in accomplishing work of such significance that the world is not likely to let the reputation of it perish. Some of these names are household words. The bearers of them have been written of at length in quite recent years in English as well as in other languages. They are St. Clare of Assisi, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Queen Blanche of Castile, the mother of St. Louis. To these should be added Queen Berengaria, sister of Blanche, and the Mother of Ferdinand of Castile; Mabel Rich, the London trademan’s wife, the Mother of St. Edmund of Canterbury; and Isabella, the famous Countess of Arundel.

They were certain women who rather look for peace and quiet than struggle for wealth and positions. Women did not have to marry, perhaps unsuitable, often even objectionable men simply inordinate to fit with the mode of life. They could join one of these(monastic) communities and though in absolute poverty, with many hours each day devoted to meditation and prayer, had time to give to beautiful needle work, to painting and book illumination, and to other feminine occupations; and might thus pass long, happy lives, apart from the bustle of the strenuous time … These women got many from this unfortunate state of affairs(i.e. wars and struggles of all kinds engaged in for precedence and power). They stood in the eyes of their generation for chosen people who saw things differently from others. They taught a great lesson of not caring too much for the things of the world and of not living one’s life in order to gain admiration though usually envy comes, nor idle praise for qualities they either do not possess or that are not worthy of notice. They showed people the real value of it this life by its reflection upon the other. Many a man turned aside from ambitious schemes that would have injured others, because of the kindly influence of these unselfish women and because of the memory of a sister, or an aunt whose sacrificing life was thus a rebuke to his foolish selfishness.