Our saint for today, St. Bonaventure (whose birth name was John) – who is also known as "the seraphic doctor" (of the Church) was born in Tuscany, Italy in 1221. As a child John suffered from a dangerous illness and it was at his mother's pleading that St. Francis himself prayed for his recovery: and John himself then cried out "O Buona ventura" – O good fortune! – thus foreseeing his own entry into the Franciscan community and being given the name Bonaventure!
In this studies for the priesthood in Paris, St. Bonaventure became great friends with, among other great theologians, St. Thomas Aquinas. He received the degree of Doctor, together with his friend St. Thomas. Both of them enjoyed the friendship of the holy King, St. Louis of France.
At age thirty-five he was chosen General of his order and restored a perfect calm where peace had been disturbed by internal dissensions. Successfully declining one offer to be made Archbishop, pope Gregory X obliged him to take upon himself an even great role as Cardinal and Bishop of Albano, one of the six suffragan Sees of Rome.He died while he was assisting at the Second Council of Lyons, on July 15, 1274.
Our readings today are about being rooted and grounded in love, which can only be grasped, by faith, as we invite the Lord Jesus to come and dwell in our hearts.
St. Bonaventure puts it this way: the purpose of human knowledge is to love (not simply just to collect facts and figures): and this is how we get to the root of love: 1) we allow ourselves to experience a purification from sin – and this brings the "calm of peace;" 2) we allow ourselves to experience illumination, based on the imitation of Christ, leading to the "splendor of truth!" 3) we experience finally, union with God, which leads directly to the "sweetness of love!"
Just listening to these words right now and honestly evaluating our relationship with them – each of us ought to be able to determine where we stand in the process of unification with God that we are all called to: and each of us ought to be able to determine where more work needs to be done, if only to maintain the progress that has been made!
Be not afraid! Sometimes this is a lifelong process! But the end result is worth all the struggle that we go through to get there!
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted! Lord, teach me your statutes!
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