The Poor Clares belong to the Order of Saint Clare, which was originally called the Order of Poor Ladies. They were the second Franciscan Order to be established. Poor Claire's life today has similarities to that of 1212, but it also has some minor differences. They have a strict schedule that they respect while following the powerful mission founded by the Poor Clares. Poor Claire's life today is entirely dedicated to God, as it was then. Saint Clare was born in 1193 in Assisi into the nobility. Before Claire was born, her mother received a sign from God that her daughter was going to be “the shining light of God in the world.” She was a very spiritual child and she prayed all the time. At the age of 22, Saint Francis placed her in a house near the convent and made her a superior. Being a Poor Clare was a very unusual lifestyle for women of the time (http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint.php?n=564). Poor Clares around the world follow the same schedule called the Horarium. Throughout the day, they always have something to do. This is their daily schedule dedicated to God. The Poor Clares follow the same schedule every day, without fail. It's a way of life for them. The Poor Clares believe that “all time is in the service of God, every moment is a means to a much greater end and, therefore, every moment counts” (http://www.cloisteredlife.com/poor-clares/) . They believe that they were put on this earth to devote themselves to God and that all the time they spend there means a lot. They depend heavily on God. The Poor Clares' day begins at 12:30 a.m. when they get up, then at 12:45 a.m. they meditate and read Matins. Then, at 1:45 a.m., they retire and go back to sleep until 5:00 a.m., when they ...... middle of paper ......e in many different parts of the globe. They live on the powerful mission of the Lord. They always follow a strict schedule because their entire day is dedicated to God and union with Him. The Poor Clares of today follow the same Horarium as the Poor Clares of that time, they also have the same vocations and duties. Being a Clare today would almost be equivalent to being a Clare in 1212. The Poor Clares today follow the path that Saint Clare traced for them. /poorclares.wordpress.com/a-day-in-the-monastery/ http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/CLARA.HTM http://www.poorclares-belleville.info/Who%20We% 20Are/index.htm http://www.geocities.ws/osc_aritao/vocation.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor_Clares http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint.php?n=564http https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vow_of_Enclosure