The Poor Clares, officially the Order of Saint Clare ( Latin: Ordo sanctae Clarae), originally referred to as the Order of Poor Ladies, and also known as the Clarisses or Clarissines, the Minoresses, the Franciscan Clarist Order, and the Second Order of Saint Francis, are members of a contemplative Order of nuns in the Catholic Church. For the Elizabeth Gaskell story, see The Poor Clare (short story).įresco of Saint Clare and nuns of her Order, Chapel of San Damiano, Assisi
