People go to Monasterio de Santa Clara to pray for good weather and clear skies whenever they have a big event coming up. Think of weddings, birthdays, debuts, school events, you name it, chances are, the celebrants or their representative would come knocking at the monastery's door to offer eggs in petition of fair weather. Not only that, but students who are bound to take their examinations, be it a quarterly one, finals or board exams, also offer a tray of eggs for a clear mind and guidance while answering test questions.
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| Monasterio de Sta. Clara along Katipunan Avenue |
Why Eggs?
But the question is, why eggs? The eggs came to be associated with her name because egg whites are very clear. Hence, any one wishing to have clear skies, a clear mind or a clear conscience offer eggs for her intercession.
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| Blessing of St. Clare |
Some Info About St. Clare
Born as Chiara Offreduccio, her name means clear, bright or light in Italian. St. Clare of Assisi was born to a noble family in 1194 and was drawn to a life of prayer at an early age, inspired by her devout mother. However, it wasn't after meeting St. Francis of Assisi that she left her family and the luxury of her home to enter the convent at San Damiano. There, together with sister and later on her mother, she founded the Franciscan Order known as the Order of Poor Clares.
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| Image of St. Clare where people can offer flowers in front of the church |
Today, the Monasterio de Sta. Clara or St. Clare Monastery (sometimes spelled as Claire or Clair) can be found along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, where vendors line outside the monastery's gates selling eggs wrapped in colorful cellophane.
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| The kids posing beside the fountain |
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| Monastery behind the wishing fountain |
Upon entering the gates, one can see another gate leading to the monastery, which is off limits, separating it from the church grounds. There is a fountain near the entrance where one can make a wish and throw in coins. The catch is you have to be able to place it at the topmost tier. We let both Alec and Caleb throw in coins and they immensely enjoyed this activity.
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| St. Clare Church |
The church itself is quite child friendly, with a part of it an open area where children hearing mass with their parents can stay. There is also an area where nuns can hear mass separated from the public.
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| St. Clare Church Altar |
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| Open area at the side of the church |
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| Where the Order of St. Clare can hear mass |
The egg offering and petition area is located at the lower part of the church premises. There is also an altar or prayer area for St. Clare beside it.
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| Petition area where people can write their prayer requests |
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| Alec dropping in Daddy's request |
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| The Petittion Box |
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| Enclosed prayer area for St. Clare |
The candle offering area is located at the side of the church premises. There is also a figure of Jesus Christ on the Cross where people can offer flowers.
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| Candle offering area |
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| Figure of Jesus Christ on the Cross |
Monasterio de Sta. Clara
Order of Poor Clares; Order of St. Clare
Katipunan Ave., cor. Aurora Blvd., Quezon City 1108
Telephone Number: +632525 6332
How to get there:
-From Cubao, one can ride a jeepney along Aurora Blvd. going to Marikina or Antipolo and alight at Katipunan Ave.
-Via LRT2, alight at the Katipunan station along Aurora Blvd. and walk towards Katipunan Ave.
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