The Bishop of Assisi Giving a Palm to
St.
Clare
ca. 1360
Nuremberg
Tempera and gold on oak
panel
The
Cloisters, New
York
City
On Palm Sunday of 1211 or 1212 the Bishop of Assisi was distributing
palms to the faithful who crowded around the altar rail. But one young
woman stayed back, lost in thoughts about the prospect of living in the
manner of St. Francis, who had been preaching that Lent in Assisi. The
bishop noticed the young woman and left the sanctuary to hand her a
palm branch personally. That night, Clare secretly left her home, met
with Francis, and vowed her life to the service of Jesus Christ.
More of St. Clare
More of St. Francis
Photographed at the
Cloisters by Richard Stracke