Born to a wealthy Italian family in 1194, St. Clarewas one of the first followers of St. Francis ofAssisi. Wanting a life of poverty and refusing tomarry anyone but Jesus Christ, she eventuallybuilt a following that is known today as the“Poor Clares.” In 1241, during the Crusades,armies came to attack the order. Though feeblewith ill health and age, Clare rose to meet thearmies with the Blessed Sacrament and prayedto God to protect her sisters. The armies fellback, as if dazed, and retreated. Toward theend of her life, Clare became too ill to attendMass but, miraculously, a vision of the Massappeared on her wall and, though it wasseveral miles away, she was able to hear it.Because of this vision, she is thepatron saint of television and eye ailments.