July 15 2026 - St. Bonaventure - Marian Protection and Christian Perfection

 

The Church celebrates today the Feast of St. Bonaventure.  When we celebrate the saints, we reflect on the lessons from their lives on how to be a more faithful follower of Jesus Christ. 

St. Bonaventure met St. Francis of Assisi as a young boy, in fact, it is said that St. Francis miraculously cured Bonaventure of a serious disease.  As a young man, Bonaventure joined the Franciscans, and it was immediately evident that he was a genius. Bonaventure went on to be one of the great academics intellects of the middle ages along with St Thomas Aquinas, writing biblical commentaries and theological and philosophical treatises. Bonaventure wrote the official biography of St. Francis’ life, which is still read today, 750 years after his death.

St. Bonaventure was declared by Pope Sixtus V as a Doctor of the Church.  For Bonaventure’s great insight into the spiritual life and into theology really shapes the way we understand what it means to be a follower of Jesus. 

St. Bonaventure wrote, “Whoever wishes to ascend to God must first avoid sin, which deforms our nature; he must pray to receive restoring grace; he must lead a good life, to receive purifying justice; he must meditate, to receive illuminating knowledge; he must practice contemplation, to receive perfecting wisdom.” 

Avoid Sin. Pray to receive restoring grace. Meditate. Practice contemplation.

In the spiritual life, St. Bonaventure also taught praying for the protection of Our Lady against the temptations of the devil. St. Bonaventure writes, “Deliver me, O Lady, from all evil: and from the infernal enemy defend me. Against me he hath drawn his bow: and in his craftiness he hath laid snares for me. Restrain his evil power: and powerfully crush his craft. Turn back his iniquity on his own head: and let him speedily fall into the pit which he hath made. But we will rejoice in thy service: and we will glory in thy praise.”

Bonaventure writes, of course, about looking to the life and example of Jesus, our Lord. He writes, “In all your deeds and words you should look upon this Jesus as your model. Do so whether you are walking or keeping silence, or speaking, whether you are alone or with others. He is perfect, and thus you will be not only irreprehensible, but praiseworthy.”

May St. Bonaventure, help us indeed, to Avoid sin. Pray. Meditate. Contemplate. Seek Mary’s Protection. And Follow Jesus’ example, that we may obtain that perfection for which we were made, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For Pope Leo, Bishop Malesic and all of the clergy: may their lives and ministry be marked by truth, holiness and zeal for souls. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all theologians, teachers, students, and scholars: that their studies may lead not to pride, but deeper union with God. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our parish community: that, following the example of Saint Bonaventure, we may avoid sin, pray fervently, meditate deeply, contemplate heavenly things, and imitate Jesus in all our words and deeds. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For the faithful departed: that they may behold the Lord face to face and enter into the perfect wisdom and joy of heaven. Let us pray to the Lord.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

 

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

July 15 2020 - St. Bonaventure - To know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge

Knowledge is a wonderful thing. We are born into this world knowing nothing but our instincts. We know enough to cry when we are hungry, or uncomfortable, or lonely. And there is a joy, when a child begins to learn—how to walk, how to talk. I remember visiting the library as a very young child, but not knowing how to read, the books there were basically useless. But the joy of learning how to read gave me access to the contents of those countless books. Even children who have a rough time with formal education find a joy in grasping new concepts and facts in school.

And of course knowledge helps us to make our way in the world: we learn how to take care of ourselves, how to cook, clean, use money, it enables us to pursue really good things, and can help us alleviate the sufferings of others.

On these feast of the Franciscan Saint Bonaventure, great doctor of the Church, learned in the ways of God, who teaches us so much about God, we have a reading from St. paul’s letter to the ephesians, in which the Apostle speaks of the most important knowledge of all.

Of all the things that we will ever learn or ever know, there is one thing that rises in importance above every other thing: it is the knowledge of Christ and His love.

St. Paul prays that Christians “may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Knowledge of the love of Christ fills us with the fullness of God.

The knowledge of an object or of a science is one thing, but knowledge of a person, the knowledge family members have of each other, the knowledge spouses have of each other. This brings great fulfillment. But higher still is knowledge of the love of Christ. Because it brings us a fulfillment that nothing else in the world can provide.

Knowledge of Christ’s love does not come simply through reading books. It comes experientially, spending time in his presence through prayer, following his example of charity and obedience to the will of the Father, and following in his footsteps by taking up our crosses. It comes sacramentally, for through the Sacraments we encounter Him, his mercy, his love, his strength. The Lord longs to share the knowledge of his love with us, but we must humble ourselves, and seek to love him more than our sins, more than the world, more than our very lives.

Having encountered this love, we seek to bring others who are outside of this knowledge, outside of this experience, into the Church, into relationship with God through Christ, that they may know it, too. For those outside of the Church are deprived of that which makes life worth living.

Bonaventure said, "If you learn everything except Christ, you learn nothing. If you learn nothing except Christ, you learn everything."

May we know the constant assistance of St. Bonaventure and the heavenly court in obtaining and sharing this surpassing knowledge which fills us with the fullness of God for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may have a burning love for the Crucified-and-Risen Lord, and that love may be seen in the priorities of their life.

That the work and ministry of all Franciscan organizations and charitable institutions may bear fruit for the spread of the Gospel.

For the purification of our minds and hearts from the errors of the culture and from the lure of worldly attachments.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

July 15 2019 - St. Bonaventure - Burning Love

When I visited Assisi a few weeks ago, I was able to spend some time praying before the famous cross of San Damiano—the cross from which St. Francis of Assisi heard Our Blessed Lord commissioning him to rebuild his Church. After literally rebuilding the chapel of San Damiano that had fallen into ruins, Francis went on a crusade across Europe, rebuilding the Church spiritually through his preaching and witnessing to the Gospel through his radical poverty.

Born in 1217,  Bonaventure entered the newly formed Franciscan order, just around 20 years after the death of Francis. It became clear that his intellectual gifts would benefit the Order greatly, so he was sent to the great University of Paris, where he soon became a professor of theology.

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.

There is no other path (to heaven, to God, to happiness),” he writes, “but through the burning love of the Crucified.” Only a “raging fire” in our soul, a fire of “intense fervor” and “glowing love” can carry our soul to God. 

Bonaventure used his intellectual gifts to help souls discover that burning love for the Crucified. We no doubt are called to use whatever gifts we have to do the same, to bring spiritual vitality to the Church through works of charity.

As minister general of the Franciscans, when already that young Order was beginning to experience some splintering into different factions, Bonaventure stressed compassion for the poor, simplicity of life, detachment from riches, hard work, prayer, and study, to seek to love and imitate Our Blessed Lord Jesus in all things.

St. Bonaventure, Doctor of the Church, wrote, “Whoever wishes to ascend to God must first avoid sin, which deforms our nature; he must pray to receive restoring grace; he must lead a good life, to receive purifying justice; he must meditate, to receive illuminating knowledge; he must practice contemplation, to receive perfecting wisdom.” 

May we then follow the good Doctor’s advice, by avoiding sin, praying for healing grace, meditating on the truths of the Gospel, and practicing the contemplation of God, that our hearts may be set afire with divine love for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That all Christians may have a burning love for the Crucified-and-Risen Lord, and that love may be seen in the priorities of their life.

That the work and ministry of all Franciscan organizations and charitable institutions may bear fruit for the spread of the Gospel.

For the purification of our minds and hearts from the errors of the culture and from the lure of worldly attachments.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord