Atrium - St. Clare of Assisi Stained-Glass Window

St. Clare of Assisi Stained-Glass Window

This depiction is inspired by a 1240 event where St. Clare confronted invading Saracen (Muslim) soldiers who were attacking the monastery of San Damiano, well outside Assisi’s walls. Though ill, she had herself carried to the monastery wall and held the Blessed Sacrament aloft, praying for divine protection. The invaders were terrified and fled the scene. While historical accounts say she likely held a smaller vessel like a pyx, the powerful image of her holding a monstrance has become a lasting symbol of her strong Eucharistic spirituality and trust in God.

When discussing the miracles attributed to Saint Clare (1193-1253), Gregory Dipippo in August 2016 wrote:

“In art, St Clare is often represented holding a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament in it, an unusual attribute for any Saint who was not a priest. This custom arises from one of the great miracles which she performed. The army of Frederick II, which counted a great many Saracens from Sicily in its number, were plundering the part of Umbria which includes Assisi. As the invaders sought to enter the convent at San Damiano, Clare took the ciborium from one of the chapels within the complex, and brought it to a window near the place where the soldiers had set a ladder against the walls in order to scale them. When she raised the Blessed Sacrament on high, the soldiers fell off the ladder and away from the wall as if dazzled, and the whole company of them fled.”

In 1257, construction began on the Basilica of St. Clare and the adjoining proto-monastery. In 1260, the Poor Clares took with them the body of St. Clare and the original San Damiano Cross which now hangs in the basilica’s Blessed Sacrament Chapel (formally St. George Church).

A statue of St. Clare holding a monstrance is part of the Colonnade of Saints in St. Peter's Basilica. During our pilgrimages to Italy with the Assisi Scholars, finding the statue of St. Clare in Vatican City and retelling the story related to it is always a favorite of the students.

There is a plaque and relic honoring St. Clare, the patron saint of theater performers, outside of the Carol Dauwe Fine Arts Center at Roger Bacon.

The window is in honor of Ken and Becky Pitcher. Ken is a 1977 graduate of Roger Bacon and graduated with honors with a major in Accounting from the University of Cincinnati. In October 2009, Ken, Mike Enders and Jim Drohan joined together to create the firm, Pitcher, Enders & Drohan, CPAs. Ken is President and Managing Partner of the firm. Ken’s entire career has been concentrated in the area of tax law. He has extensive experience in all types of federal, state and local taxation, and has been involved in tax litigation and dispute resolution at the federal, state and local levels. Ken’s practice focuses on helping successful small businesses and high net worth individuals minimize their overall tax burdens through proactive tax planning. His clients include successful small business owners, high net worth professionals, and corporate executives.

Ken and Becky Pitcher have been married for over 40 years and have three adult children - Kyle, Brian, and Kelly.