Basilica di Santa Chiara (St. Clare)

While in Assisi on Saturday, we also visited the Basilica of St. Clare, where St. Clare is buried and the original San Damiano Cross hangs.

Here is our group of pilgrims walking towards the basilica: 

St. Clare died in 1253 at the age of 59 and was canonized two years later by Pope Alexander IV. 

She was buried deep beneath the high altar in a basilica newly built in her honor. For roughly six centuries, the body of St. Clare lay buried there. Following the excavations and findings of St. Francis’s remains, in 1850, Pope Pius IX granted permission that excavations be made to search for the body of Clare. Thus, after seven days the stone coffin containing her body was found. When it was opened, it was discovered that St. Clare’s body, though blackened with age, was still incorrupt. 

In time, St. Clare's remains began to deteriorate; thus, a mask was constructed to cover her remains, which were soon reduced to bones. The mask can be seen by the public today, while her actual relics can be seen only by the sisters who have access to the rear of the crypt. 

The original San Damiano Cross hangs in a special chapel in St. Clare's Basilica. This is the cross St. Francis was praying before when the Lord spoke to him from the cross and told him to "rebuild My Church." All Franciscans cherish this cross as the symbol of their mission from God. 

We were not allowed to photograph the cross, so here is the image from the Internet.