240: Retro-Santo: STA. CLARA DE MONTEFALCO of PASAY

STA. CLARA DE MONTEFALCO OF PASAY, as she looked in
 the 1960s. Note her attributes; cross and balance scale. Souvenir holy card,

Pasay is home to the Sta. Clara Parish Church,--a landmark on P. Burgos St., which was founded in 1864. Installed as the first parish priest was Fray Simeon Betino, OSA, who served for 4 years.

The parish is under the patronage of Sta. Clara, who was born in Montefalco around 1268. Sta. Clara joined the convent of Franciscan tertiaries which founded the Holy Cross Convent at Montefalco in 1290. She rose to become the abbess of the community.

Known for living a very austere life, Sta. Clara had a profound devotion to the Passion of Christ and His Cross. When Clare died in 1308, an image of the Cross was found imprinted on her heart, and her body remained incorrupt. She was canonized in 1881 by Pope Leo XIII. 

ATTRIBUTES OF STA. CLARA: Cross, balance scale and a pierced heart
 are old accessories of the saint. Her halo has been replaced by a radiance. .

The age-old image of Sta. Clara enshrined in the Pasay Church shows the holy woman dressed in her habit, holding her attributes—the cross, in reference to her devotion, and the balance scale—used for weighing or judging the goodness of souls against the word of God.

On her Aug. 17 fiesta, the image of Sta. Clara is paraded, accompanied by rousing  music performed by different invited bands,in a celebration so festive, befitting the saint who continues to be a source of inspiration to the faithful of Pasay.

AWIT KAY STA. CLARA DE MONTEFALCO

(Words & Music by Rev. Fr. Severino G. Casas.

former Asst. Parish Priest, 1962)

Sta. Clara de Montefalco,

Kaisang bituin ng Lunsod ng Pasay

Patrona na aming sinta

Dalagang santa n gaming parokya

Devota siyang tunay sa Santisima Trinidad

At sa pagmamalasakit ng ating Panginoon

O Patronang matulungin, igawad ang iyong awa

Purihin ka at kilalanin ng mga tagarito sa amin

Kami nawa’y patnubayan ng pagsinta mong tunay

Ng kayo’y makapiling hanggang kamatayan,

Hanggang kalwalhatian.