How much do you know about Saint Bonaventure?
The Church celebrates the feast day of this incredible saint on July 15.
Here are a few things to know about Saint Bonaventure, followed by a powerful prayer written by him:
1) Saint Bonaventure was given the title of “Seraphic Doctor” due to his incredible theological influence and spiritual wisdom. He is a Doctor of the Church.
According to Franciscan Media,
“Bonaventure experienced God’s love as revealed in the humility and suffering of Christ, whose cross enables us to experience God’s companionship and the power to change our lives. Bonaventure wanted to share the Franciscan experience of intimacy with God not only with monks and priests but with “ordinary” people who can embody this same love in the spiritual integration of head, heart, and hands.”
“If you do not know your own dignity and condition, you cannot value anything at its proper worth.” – Saint Bonaventure, Holiness of Life
2) Saint Bonaventure had a deep devotion to Our Blessed Mother.
He frequently wrote of her role in salvation history. In his work, “Mirror of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” Bonaventure described her unique relationship with God, her divine grace, and her powerful role as an intercessor for all humanity.
“Thy beauty astonishes the sun and the moon; the angelic powers serve and obey thee. By thy gentle touch the sick are healed: by thy rose-sweet fragrance the dead revive.” – Saint Bonaventure, The Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary
3) Saint Bonaventure was friends with both Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Louis, King of France.
He met them while completing his studies in Paris.
4) Saint Bonaventure wrote the official biography of Saint Francis of Assisi!
According to Catholic News Agency,
“Wishing to present an authentic image of the life and teaching of their founder, he zealously collected documents about Saint Francis of Assisi and heard testimonies of those who had actually known him. From this information, he compiled a biography of the saint that was adopted as his official biography by the General Chapter of the Friars Minor in 1263.”
“The proud demons flee before the lofty virtues of the humble.” – Saint Bonaventure, The Life of Saint Francis
It is also said that as an infant, he was healed by the intercessory prayers of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Below you will find a beautiful prayer written by Saint Bonaventure:
"Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, and with true, calm and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with entire love and longing for Thee, may yearn for Thee and for thy courts, may long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.
Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the Bread of Angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and super substantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delightful taste.
May my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, Whom the angels desire to look upon, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst for Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the fullness of the house of God;
May it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, come up to Thee, meditate on Thee, speak of Thee, and do all for the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, with perseverance to the end; and be Thou alone ever my hope, my entire confidence, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession, my treasure; in Whom may my mind and my heart be ever fixed and firm and rooted immovably. Amen.