Born in Assisi, Italy, she became at 18 a
follower of St Francis, who founded for her
the convent of San Damiano. Here she gathered
the first members of the Order of Poor
Clares. In 1958 she was proclaimed by Pius
XII the patron saint of television, since in
1252 she saw from her convent sickbed the
Christmas services being held in the Basilica
of St Francis in Assisi. Feast day 12 Aug.