Saint Bonaventure

St. Bonaventure was born in the Italian region of Tuscany in 1221. At the age of four, he was cured of a grave illness through the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi. When he entered the Order of Friars Minor in 1243, he was named "Bonaventure," which means "good venture" or "happy arrival." After completing his studies in Paris under the great founder of the Franciscan school, the Englishman Alexander of Hales, he lectured at the University for seven years. 

In 1257, he received his doctorate with his intimate friend, St. Thomas Aquinas. Earlier the same year, though hardly 39, he was elected Minister General of his Order, an office he held for 16 difficult years. He prudently endeavored to curb the extremists, both among the Spirituals, who insisted on the literal observance of St Francis' original rule, and the Conventuals, who favored certain mitigations and relaxations, and he tried to find a commonly acceptable middle ground of essentials. He thus came to be called the Second Founder of the Friars Minor. In 1263, Bonaventure issued a directive to ring a bell at a specific hour, associated with the popular belief that the Annunciation occurred then. This pious practice is believed to have influenced the origin of the Angelus. He founded one of the Church's oldest confraternities in Rome in honor of Our Lady, and at the request of his friend, King St Louis of France, he composed the "Office of the Passion."

When Pope Clement IV offered Bonaventure the position of Archbishop of York in 1265, Bonaventure firmly declined the appointment. Eight years later, however, he reluctantly agreed to become Cardinal Bishop of Albano. When the envoys of Pope Gregory X arrived at his monastery near Florence, they found him washing dishes. It was to him that Gregory X entrusted the preparation of the 14th Ecumenical Council to be held at Lyons in 1274. At the Council's sessions, he ably directed the deliberations. However, before the Council could reach its conclusion, Bonaventure passed away on July 15, 1274. Canonized by Pope Sixtus IV in 1482, he was declared a doctor of the Church by Pope Sixtus V in 1588.

An outstanding philosopher and theologian, this "Seraphic Doctor," as he came to be known, had a clear vision, prudence, and fortitude. In contrast to St Thomas Aquinas' theoretical teaching, which enlightens the mind, his teaching was eminently practical and heartwarming to arouse devotion. Pope Leo XIII justly termed him "The Prince par excellence." Bonaventure has left us a wealth of writings, which are outstanding for their simple clarity. His "Threefold Way" is a compendium of mysticism; his great "Commentary of the Sentences", which he wrote at the age of 27, covers the entire field of scholastic theology in over 4,000 pages; his "Breviloquium" is a shorter summary of the compendium of our dogmas; his touchingly beautiful "Life of St Francis" was officially declared by the Pisa Chapter of 1263 to be the holy founder's standard biography. St. Bonaventure consistently prioritized his preaching and took advantage of every opportunity to engage with various audiences, including his fellow friars, the clergy, the general public, as well as Popes and Kings.

St. Bonaventure, pray for us, that we may have a sincere desire for all men to be saved and come into the knowledge of the true faith.

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,

Most High Servant,

Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love (Blessed  and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)