July 15 2024 - St. Bonaventure - The path of burning love

 In the early 13th century, a young boy named Giovanni di Fidanza became gravely ill, to the point of death. His mother, sought ought a holy man who had been preaching the Gospel of Christ throughout the land.  The preacher prayed over the boy, and cured him, and spoke the words, “O Bonaventura”—which is latin for “O one for whom good things will come”.  The miracle working preacher was of course St. Francis; the boy Giovanni, would later take the words of prophecy uttered by Francis as his name: Bonaventure. And good things certainly were to come through the life of this boy healed by the love of God.

Bonaventure entered the Franciscan Order at an early age. Because of his great intellect he was sent to study in one of the world’s great universities in Paris. He was so brilliant and holy that one of his professors said of him, “In Bonaventure, it was as if Adam hadn’t sin.” At the age of 27, Bonaventure was made a professor at that great school. At the age of 35, again, because of his wisdom and holiness, he was elected minister general of the Franciscans.  Bonaventure is often called the “second Founder” of the Franciscans because of the great impact he had on the order, particularly in stressing the importance of study and loving Christ with a burning heart.

Alongside St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bonaventure has been hailed as one of the two great pillars of high Scholastic. Pope Sixtus V made him a Doctor of the Church. As St. Thomas Aquinas is known as the Angelic Doctor, St. Bonaventure is known as the Seraphic Doctor.

And what a fitting title: for the Seraphim are the order of angels who serve at God’s throne and offer God constant praise, and the word Seraphim means burning one. Bonaventure loved God and served God with a burning love. His writings as a Doctor of the Church are filled with urgings to love God. “There is no other path (to heaven, to God, to happiness),” he writes, “but through the burning love of the Crucified.” 

Is your heart on fire with love of God? If not, why not? For our souls to catch fire, Bonaventure encourages us to strive to avoid sin, to pray for the healing of our deformed nature, to meditate upon God’s word, that our mind might be illuminated by the knowledge of divine things, and to practice contemplation, to focus our hearts and minds on God alone.

As we prayed in the opening prayer, that as we “celebrate the heavenly birthday of the Bishop Saint Bonaventure, we may benefit from his great learning and constantly imitate the ardor of his charity” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the Church, that through the intercession of St. Bonaventure, we may grow in both learning and ardent charity. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those whose hearts have grown cold in their love for God, that through the example of the saints, they may be rekindled with divine love. Let us pray to the Lord.

That this week’s Eucharistic Congress may help deepen our love and reverence for the Bread of Life. May the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist help us to live out our vocation to holiness with greater zeal, self-sacrifice, and trust in God.  

We pray for our nation: that we may be united by God’s Spirit, guarded from terror, observant of God’s Holy Laws, and vigilant against threats to our freedom, peace, and well-being. May the Wisdom of God guide our government leaders and legislators, our families, businesses, civil institutions, and all our domestic affairs. 

For those who are ill, especially children, that through the intercession of St. Bonaventure, they may experience God's healing touch. Let us pray to the Lord.

And that all those redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus may come to the glory of heaven, especially X for whom this mass is offered.

Gracious Father, hear our prayers and grant us what we truly need that we may serve you with burning charity and come to the glory of heaven. Through Christ our Lord