The curious connections of St Bonaventure

"By Thy gentle touch, the sick are healed. By Thy rose-sweet fragrance, the dead revive.”

– Saint Bonaventure (1217-1274)

Feast July 15

The Seraph's Miracle. In the later years of St Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) a tiny male was born, to whom God sealed the seraphic soul. Tuscan legend portrays an event, where the Franciscan founder made eye-contact with a failing-to-thrive boy. He stopped to pray together. "Oh Pappa-God, we ask you to reverse this boy's dangerous illness." The boy exclaimed, “O Buona Ventura!” or “O good fortune!” Perhaps all suffering evaporated when the boy saw Jesus in the Founder's eyes. This miracle would forever compel the boy to praise God, yet credit St Francis. All legends aside, he later vowed poverty and obedience with the humble Franciscans. Meanwhile, God launched an unthinkable, strategic and graceful plan, for this trusting soul.

Escalating Intellects. As a young man, Bonaventure studied in Paris and joined the Franciscans. Staying on in Paris, he rigorously pursued the Sacred Scripture. Providentially, Friar Bonaventure and Dominican priest, Fr. Thomas Acquinas were doctoral classmates. Imagine their Parisian suppers of rabbit with vino bon marche. Not only could they invent versions of Francis swapping belts with Dominic--could they agree on who offered his belt first? The rest as we say, is history. As both mentally flow-charted the other's charisms, their Orders' Rules were compared and contrasted. Moreover, we can postulate their benchmarking. To pool resources, might they outline maps for reciprocal housing? Bridges across Orders were built, through lessons learned and updates shared. Probably, conversations began as formal debates or collaborative studies. Meanwhile, a theological war was fuming between traditional Academia and new mendicant orders; who intersected and unified the Franciscans and Dominicans. Allegedly, mendicant vocations were canabalizing new clergy from the polishing-assembly line. Worse, new theology was postulated in absentia. At the crux was, who guards the deposit of faith? As upper echelons engaged, envy and suspicion burned through academic circles. Yet, the unflappable friar remained optimistic. Were the Academic's arguments, old news? Perhaps the father and friar and had previously resolved them over vin, fromage y prosciutto at university?

Theological Boundaries. Over time, we surmise growing academic-petitions for hearings. Therein, the empathetic friar would deploy Aquinas-detailed facts to define Academic Theology. Once their case-logic was diagrammed--to the satisfaction of all--he drew mendicant boundaries with non-intersecting and complementary charisms. Seeking souls, the meek friars cited scriptural theology to ground their emerging charisms. Perhaps, he sought their input? The successful friar's remaining task, was detailed documentation. Smiling and writing, the reminiscent friar must have remembered graduating with both Doctor and Masters of Theology. It was the same day that his gifted-Dominican and beloved Father Aquinas, earned the Doctor of Theology.

A Man for Unity. At the 1263 General Order Assembly, the charismatic friar was elected Minister General, a role he held for 17 years. At his birth, the Franciscan friars numbered 5,000. By age 40, the holy friar's flock was 30,000 across Europe, the Middle East Northern Africa and China. To unite cultures and clans, the grateful friar wrote a biography of St Francis, using original sources and firsthand witnesses. The Order voted this profound work as Brother Francis' official biography. A free pdf of this nourishing book is linked below. You must read it once in your lifetime. If printed, pass along your 87-page double sided manuscript. Due to age, all public domain rights are preserved. These 2 souls satisfy everything and more. The living friar had hoped to qualify and quantify the seraphic founder's soul. Echoing the wiser Aquinas, it was straw in the wind. Both friends were forever-united in humility, through their failures.

St Bonaventure's Legacy. From 1265 until his death, the friar wrote profound letters, sermons, and works of mystical theology. He articulated the Franciscan charism logic in rich, yet simple wisdom. Gently, our simple friar united basic logic and complex love. Specificallly, God gifts some with mercy and compassion. While others receive intellect, wisdom, and an affinity for the arts and letters. If rhetoric draws the learned man's soul, what draws the poor man's soul? He proposed soul-mining approaches for urban ghettos and desert caves. Through their vow of humility, friars were more menials than academics. Their charism was not to defend the deposit of faith. Unity was achieved, for now. Meanwhile, Pope Gregory X needed help: he anointed the obedient friar to bishop then cardinal. The new cardinal was to guide the 2nd Council of Lyon. The goal was unity between East and Western Catholic leaders. Before long, God would have other plans.

In 1274 before conclusion of the council, Cardinal Bonaventure died at the age 56.
In 1482, he was canonized by Pope Sixtus IV.
In 1588, Pope Sixtus V awarded Seraphic Doctor of the Church to him for composing supernatural-level documents.

Journey of the mind to God. All legends and conjecture aside, this saint radiantly-packaged the superfectal-brilliances of: Sts Francis, Dominic and Aquinas. All along, God's plan for this lowly friar was as His personal and prudent-purveyor of edifying, elegant and eternal Theology.

St Bonaventure,

Thank you for saying yes to God.

His plan for you was humble communication of radical Franciscan charisms with using profound simplicity.

Using prayer, faith, and gentle nudges from Aquinas, you stayed true to the Franciscan goal:

to bring God to others.

Sts Francis and Dominic please intercede with He, who is above all things.

Ask and thank him for our many graces, so we too may serve Him with humility.

Sts Bonaventure and Francis, pray for us.

Mother Mary, pray for us.

Jesus, we trust in You.

Sources:

The life of St Francis (pdf) written by St Bonaventure