However, the family remained angry. They were afraid of shame. Her father wanted to force her away. However, Clara went to the church, embraced the altar, and cried out, “You know that I do not want a bridegroom other than Jesus. I chose him and I will not leave him. ”Although the relatives were furious, they did not dare to approach her. Francis then led her to the monastery of St. Angela in Panza, where they were also Benedictine. Less than two weeks later, her younger sister Agnesa announced that she wanted to go to the convent. After all, my parents didn't want to admit it. Legend has it that when twelve men came to take her from the monastery, she was so upset that they could not move her. When his uncle wanted to hit her, his hand measured. Klára then went to her parents herself to calm them down. So Agnesa also dedicated herself to God. The Bishop of Assisi released Francis' house by the church of St. Damian. There, František placed Klára and the other girls who had joined her in the meantime. In 1215, they elected Klára as their superior, although she resisted. They lived a life of poverty, strictly according to the rules. In the first years, they were called “poor mistress imprisoned at St. Damian "or" from the Spoleto Valley "or" Damian ". It was not until after Klara's death that the Poor Clares were called.
Although the first rules were written at the request of Klára František, she later reworked them with Cardinal Hugolín, later Pope Gregor IX. These second rules were approved by Pope Innocent IV, although they were seen too strictly. From Gregory IX. in fact, it had previously received the "privilege of poverty", ie the right not to be tied to any tangible property. In addition to poverty, she strived for perfection in other societies as well. She invented various ways of killing - she had thorns in her tunic, she was whipped with a whip with knots at the end, she didn't wear shoes, she ate only three times a week through fasting, even bread and water. She slept on the bare ground for a long time, with a piece of wood instead of a pillow. She spent most of the night in prayer. Although she was the superior, she did the last work: waking the sisters, ringing, lighting the lamps, sweeping the convent, washing the sisters' feet when they returned from the city.
When she became a leader, she became very insecure. She therefore promised obedience to Francis, the cardinal and bishop of Assisi. She lived in complete poverty, without land, without a steady income, in a enclosure. She showed a special love for the crucified Jesus. She pondered the Savior's pains day and night. In her illnesses, she was patient and happy to suffer with Christ. In addition to her illness, she did at least handwork so as not to be idle. She is said to have cast out devils by the power of the cross and healed the sick.