Saint Bonaventure (1221–74,) also Saint Bonaventura, originally Giovanni di Fidanza, was an Italian Franciscan theologian and a Doctor of the Church. He was very influential in the progress of scholasticism in medieval thought.
Born in Civita di Bagnoregio, Tuscany, Saint Bonaventure became a Franciscan in 1243, a professor of theology at Paris in 1253, the Minister-General of the Franciscans in 1257, and Cardinal-Bishop of Albano in 1273. He died from ascetic exhaustion while assisting Pope Gregory X during the Council of Lyons. His feast day is 14 July.
Saint Bonaventure was declared a doctor (teacher) of the church in 1587. Known as Doctor Seraphicus (“The Seraphic Doctor,”) he is remembered as an opponent of the rationalism that dominated the theology of his time and as a defender of the necessity of revelation and return to a spiritual union with God.
Saint Bonaventure wrote several works on the spiritual life and recodified the constitution of the Franciscan order in 1260. His notable works are the Breviloquium, an outline of his theology, the Itinerarium Mentis in Deum (‘Journey of the Soul into God,’) De Reductione Artium ad Theologiam (‘On the Reduction of the Arts to Theology,’) a commentary on the scholastic theologian Peter Lombard, and his Biblia Pauperum, (‘Poor Man’s Bible.’)
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Let us not believe that it is enough to read without unction, to speculate without devotion, to investigate without wonder, to observe without joy, to act without godly zeal, to know without love, to understand without humility, to strive without divine grace, or to reflect as a mirror without divinely inspired wisdom.
—Bonaventure
Come, let us give a little time to folly … and even in a melancholy day let us find time for an hour of pleasure.
—Bonaventure
Topics: Relaxation
Though a superior is rather to be loved, yet by the insolent he ought to be feared.
—Bonaventure
The best perfection of a religious man is to do common things in a perfect manner.
—Bonaventure
Topics: Religion
For the nearer any one approaches to God, the more he is illuminated, and therefore the more clearly does he see the majesty and mercy of God.
—Bonaventure
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