In 1212, in the city of Assisi in Italy, a young noble woman by the name of Clare di Faverone di Offreduccio gave away her inheritance and left all she had in order to follow in the footsteps of Jesus according to the example of Francis Bernardone and his friars. Soon other women joined her. They became known as Poor Enclosed Ladies who gave themselves to the love of Christ in a contemplative form of life, and to prayer for the church, the world, and anyone in need.
Many foundations spread quickly all over the world.
In 1233, Clare founded Sts. Cosmas and Damian Monastery in Rome. From there the Monastery of San Lorenzo of Panisperna in Italy was established in 1305. It thrived until 1870 when Garibaldi's troops entered Rome and expelled religious from their houses. San Lorenzo was taken from the sisters.