Thoughts to live by: St. Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor

15 July, Tuesday

Some notes on St. Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor.

1. Bonaventure was born in 1221, although some accounts say 1217, in Bagnoregio, Tuscany, the Papal States. His parents were Giovanni di Fidanza, a physician, and Maria di Ritella. He fell ill while a boy, and, as he said, was saved from death by the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi.

2. He joined the Franciscan Order, which named him Bonaventure. While studying theology in Paris, he became good friends with St. Thomas Aquinas, with whom he received the degree of Master of Arts, the medieval equivalent of Doctor. He was recognized for his keen memory and unusual intelligence.

3. In 1248, at the Franciscan school in Paris, he began to teach the Bible, and later lectured on the "Four Books of Sentences," a medieval theology textbook by Peter Lombard. He produced many works, notably commentaries on the Bible and the Sentences (written when he was 27 yrs old) and the "Breviloquium" (Summary) of his Theology. These works showed his deep understanding of Scriptures and the early Church Fathers, principally St. Augustine, and a wide knowledge of philosophers, particularly Aristotle. He had the rare ability to reconcile diverse traditions in theology and philosophy.

4. In 1256, he defended the Franciscan life of mendicancy against William of Saint-Amour, who accused the mendicants for defaming the Gospel by their practice of poverty. William wanted mendicants, including the Dominicans, from attaining teaching positions.

5. In 1257, Bonaventure was elected as minister general of the Franciscans. It was a time of internal discord for the Franciscans. One group, the Spirituals, disrupted the Order by a rigorous view of poverty. The "Relaxati" disturbed it by a laxity of life. With great prudence and wisdom, Bonaventure placated the first and reproved the second. His visitation of various Franciscan provinces, despite delicate health, helped greatly to accomplish his work of restoring and reforming the Franciscans in the spirit of St. Francis.

6. He expounded his conception of spiritual life in his mystical treatises. His "Journey of the Mind to God" through Christ (1259) was a masterpiece. Christ was always his center. He also wrote a new "Life of St. Francis" of Assisi (1263).

He denounced the views of unorthodox masters at Paris who contradicted revelation in their philosophy.

7. Knowing of his probity and wisdom, Pope Clement IV named Bonaventure Cardinal Bishop of Albano, Italy, in 1273. He resigned in 1274 as Minister General. He was the leading figure at the 2nd Council of Lyon in the reform of the Church, reconciling the secular clergy with the mendicant Orders. He also had a significant part in restoring the Greek church to union with Rome.

8. He died during the Council in 1274. He was about 52-53 years old. The Council and the people viewed his death as the loss of a wise and holy man, full of compassion and virtue. He was immensely loved. At his funeral, there was "much sorrow and tears." He was buried the same day in a Franciscan church, with the Pope in attendance.

9. In 1434, his head was found incorrupt. The people of Lyon chose him as the patron Saint of the city. However, the Huguenots captured Lyon in 1562 and burned Bonaventure's body in the public square. In the 19th century, during the "dechristianization of France" in the French Revolution, the urn containing the incorrupt head was hidden, and the church was razed to the ground. The urn has never been recovered. The only extant relic of Bonaventure is the arm and hand conserved at the church of St. Nicholas, Bagnoregio.

10. Bonaventure was declared a Saint by Pope Sixtus IV in 1482 and was designated a Doctor of the Church by Pope Sixtus V in 1588. He is one of the foremost men of his age, an outstanding exponent of mystical and Christian wisdom. He is known as the "Seraphic Doctor."

Pope Benedict XVI said that "among the great Christian figures who contributed to the ... harmony between faith and culture, St. Bonaventure stands out, a man of action and contemplation, of profound piety and prudent government." In his "Laudato si'", Pope Francis cited him as saying that, before the Fall, man could see the reflection of the Trinity in nature.

11. Prayer -- Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that, just as we celebrate the heavenly birthday of the Bishop St. Bonaventure, we may benefit from his great learning and constantly imitate the ardor of his charity. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Prayers, best wishes, God bless!