JULY 14

Day 14: Saint Bonaventure, Doctor in the Church.

Bonaventure was born in the year 1221 in Tuscany, Italy, in a noble family, blessed with money and virtuous life. He was named first John (Giovanni), and brought up by his mother, who had a special devotion to Our Lady, to honor and love Mary and the life of virtues.

In the year 1243, he entered the Franciscan Order, and was sent by his superiors later to the University of Paris, where he was a quite distinguished student, relying on only on his intelligence, but as well on God’s grace in his learning.

In the year 1250 he earned the title Doctor in Theology. Three years later his teacher died, thus Bonaventure replaced him teaching philosophy and theology. And as Saint Thomas Aquinas was surnamed the Angelicum (Angelic), Saint Bonaventure was surnamed the Seraphic. In the year 1256 the monks elected him to be the General Superior of the Franciscan Order, because of his immense knowledge and authentic virtue life, he only was 35 years old at that time. However, he led his monks in the paths of holiness, first by his example, observing faithfully the monastic rules, and traditions, with a special regard to the virtue of humility.

When Pope Clement IV died in the year 1268, the cardinals consulted Bonaventure on who they should elected as the new pope, and he recommended Gregory X, who later nominated him the bishop of Albano, then a cardinal. In the year 1274 was a papal nuncio to the Council of Leon, where the Pope seated him to his right. The aim of this council was to assist the crusaders with more troops and supplies, in their mission of liberating the Holy Land, and unifying the Eastern Churches with the Roman Church, and the interior reform of the Roman Church. Bonaventure became quite famous in the council of Leon; he was the first among the cardinals, their spokesman, and the best of theologians. He died three days before the council was concluded, and got a pontifical funeral, which was celebrated by the pope in person, and attended by the kings who were part of the council.

In the year 1482, pope Sixtus IV declared him a saint. In the year 1587 pope Sixtus V, proclaimed him a doctor in the Church. Bonaventure had a special devotion to Mary Mother of God, which his mother had marked in his young heart. As an adult he strived to spread out her devotion, and wrote her very beautiful poems. His theological and philosophical writings are quite distinguished and valuable. His whole life was wholly consecrated to the service of God and his Church. May his prayer be with us. Amen.