Hamilton, J. S., 1955-Sutherland, Gabrielle E.Baylor University. Institute of Church-State Studies.2010-02-022010-02-022009-122010-02-02http://hdl.handle.net/2104/5537Separating the historical figure of Saint Clare from the icon handed down from history is a significant part of this study. Part of the complexity of the life of Clare of Assisi rested in the negotiation of her very public spiritual life during a time of ecclesiastical reform and her formative association with the Franciscan movement. Another part of that construct can be attributed to her role in society as a noblewoman in the burgeoning Italian commune with all that involved. Finding the woman who was Clare within the iconic image passed down poses a challenge. The process of becoming a saint is a living dialogue between the saint-the-person and sainthood-the-symbol. Semiotic theory offers a method for studying this process of Clare-the-saint serving as image, becoming a symbol, and eventually a sign for her time—especially for women—as she grappled with questions of identity, redefined relationships, and applied her theories towards a model for Franciscan living. The legendae surrounding Clare (even those produced during her lifetime) were a significant element of this process, as the writers consciously drew upon traditional and contemporary themes from literature and iconic imagery. Clare employed similar themes in her own writings, and the Church did the same upon her death, using the occasion to re-formulate and more firmly cement canonization procedures.74741 bytes341559 bytes15924219 bytesapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfenBaylor University theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact librarywebmaster@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.Clare of Assisi.Saints.Assisi.Francis of Assisi.Early Communes of Italy.Women in the Middle Ages.Franciscans.Canonization procedures.Iconic figures in history.Ecclesiastical reform.Poverty.Mysticism.The Mystic Union of Francis and Clare of Assisi.ThesisNo access - Contact librarywebmaster@baylor.edu