St. Clare of Assisi and St. Agnes of Prague: Their Lives Intertwined by the Four Letters

Abstract

St. Clare of Assisi was a medieval Italian saint who found the Order of Poor Ladies. She was the first woman in history to write a rule for a convent and successfully got confirmation from the highest ecclesiastical authorities. St. Agnes of Prague was a Bohemian princess and also St. Clare’s closest ally. They struggled together for the privilege of poverty for religious women. The two women never met each other, but they had a great spiritual connection, clearly expressed in the four letters from St. Clare of Assisi to St. Agnes of Prague. Some historical and cultural details are also implied in the letters, such as the letter format, titles, and rhetorical method. These four letters are among the few documents that have survived; thus, they are precious primary source for historians studying medieval religious history.