Chiara

CLARE

to Chiara Frugoni

-How much longer? -Almost there, Pacifica.

That's what you said before. I'm as hungry as a wolf!

-What was that? -I don't know.

-A wolf? -Enough about wolves!

-What if... -What?

It's the devil?

This robe is itchy.

Pacifica, are you having doubts?

-Do you want to go home? -No.

I'm with you.

Francis...

We're ready.

I, Clare, promise to respect the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and to live in obedience, poverty, and chastity.

I, Pacifica, promise to respect the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and to live in obedience, poverty, and chastity.

As our Lord said to the apostles,

take nothing for the journey, no staff, no bag,

no sandals, no money.

Promise to respect the doctrine and example of Jesus,

who said to the man who wanted to attain perfection:

"If you want to be perfect go, sell your possessions

and give to the poor,

then come follow me".

We promise.

Today was a holiday, we got a chicken with its innards.

Delicious!

We have the same name.

Huh?

We're both "pacific": you're Pacifica, I'm Pacifico.

Have some bread.

Go on.

We can share...

You can't stay here, Clare.

Why?

Because your family will definitely come for you.

Then what will we do? We can't do anything.

-But we cut our hair. -That's not enough.

-Only a convent can protect you. -Go stay with the St. Paul nuns.

-I don't want to go there. -We'll end up as servants.

That's what happens if you have no dowry.

Just a few days, Clare, then we'll take you to Saint Damian.

You'll join the servant nuns.

It's humble work you'll perform as you have no dowry.

Look after the kitchen,

clean it of filth and dirt, tidy and look after the house.

We're servants of the Lord, our souls are serene.

Sure...

But put some sandals on.

I don't want filth in my convent.

There was one thing Father Benedict desired,

but he was not granted it.

He had a sister named Scholastica...

This is the story of Scholastica, the holy sister of our Saint Benedict.

-Do you understand Latin? -Yes.

I was taught by a grammar teacher.

I'm a widow, I had no dowry, I came here with my sister.

We're servants here but we're aristocrats.

I even have a son, he's big...

Really?

But my son left me, he's traveling the world.

Sister Bentevenga fell asleep.

Francis said we should preach in our vernacular,

make the Bible accessible to those who don't speak Latin.

Francis is right,

but the Bible can't be translated into vernacular, it would be sinful.

Listen to this...

Benedict goes to visit Scholastica.

She asks him to stay the night so she's not alone,

but Benedict says he cannot,

he must return to the monastery, so Scholastica starts crying.

She cries and cries, and her tears cause a flood of rain,

so much that Benedict and the friars can't set foot outside.

Divine righteousness!

She lifted her head from the table

unleashing a storm of thunder and lightning,

along with flood of rain,

so much that the venerable Benedict

and the friars with him,

could not set foot outside...

Clare?

Clare!

Come out!

Clare of Favarone!

Come out, woman!

Go show them your hair, they can't touch you.

Clare of Favarone! You shameless woman!

You must come home

to your father's authority.

Your hair?

-What have you done? -I cut it.

And now?

You want to serve these nuns?

Why?

No, father.

I want to stay with Francis and his friars.

I want to live in poverty.

Pull the thread of the weft,

press the pedal...

and then pull the reed down.

-Can my sister and I try? -Yes.

Go first, Cristiana, I'll watch.

-Put the thread here. -Yes.

And pull...

-You found all these? -We can keep them.

Look...

they're small.

Big and small ones, for any type of feet.

Elia...

Some shoes.

They're torn and tattered, but we can mend them.

Let's try.

But our friars go barefoot...

We'll wear them when we go out,

but we'll go barefoot in the monastery. Francis agrees.

These are nice.

Lady Clare?

Yes, sister?

For the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, heal my child.

I'm not a doctor.

He's had a fever for three days.

Help me, please.

-He seems better. -Warmth is the best medicine.

If you start healing the sick, what'll we do?

We won't have room for those who'll come.

We can set up a hospice for the ill and needy back here.

-We have enough room to sleep. -For now...

But when the new sisters come?

Really? You think others will join us?

I do.

To me, the friars in the woods are like knights.

Like King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table.

Now you have sisters, too,

faithful and brave.

But you must speak to the Holy Father like we did.

Or it'll be difficult.

Yes.

I'll write to the Pope.

Come see.

-The garden will go here, Cristiano? -Yes.

We'll plant garlic, onions, turnips, and similar things.

-Onions and turnips are good. -Indeed.

Leave room for flowers.

You can't eat flowers, Francis.

But they're beautiful.

Agnes, what's going on?

I want to stay here and be a nun like you.

Who saw you?

A servant escorted me but he's gone home.

Did you tell him to keep quiet?

We have no protection here if father comes for you.

What's wrong?

Our father has died, Clare.

He died?

-Was he ill? -Didn't you know?

Now uncle Monaldo...

Uncle Monaldo wants to force me to marry Master Alfredo,

Ignazia's father, he's a widower.

But Master Alfredo is 70!

Agnes?

Did our father suffer a lot?

Yes.

He always asked about you.

Until his last breath.

Master uncle!

-Let me go! -Let go of my sister!

Don't hurt her! Don't!

Let her go!

Your father was too kind, I would've killed you.

You're hurting me!

Let me go!

Francis? Francis!

-No, let me go! -Let her go!

Come on, put her on the horse.

She's too heavy, I can't.

Cursed devil!

I'll kill her rather than leave her here.

No!

Get the horses!

Let's go!

What happened, Clare?

You saw it all, Francis.

You saw.

How did you do it?

Clare

Clare

Clare

I admit I'm astonished.

Never before has the Holy Father been asked to grant an order of women

the "Privilege of Poverty".

But so be it, in the name of God Almighty.

As has been made manifest

for the hand of the heavenly Spouse

is beneath your head.

And he who feeds the birds of the sky

and clothes the lilies of the field,

shall not fail to feed and clothe you equally,

while he himself, passing by, ministers to you in eternity.