Seventh Minister General of the Franciscans, St. Bonaventure was able to compose in a book the facts of his spiritual father’s life and, in himself, the virtues he practiced, thus becoming another Francis of Assisi.

Newsroom (Gaudium Press) Countless are the charisms that the Holy Spirit arouses in the Church, diverse are the ways of life that glorify God, and even more varied are the gifts that the saints receive to lead the sheep to the true Shepherd.

In the history of the Church, there is a constant struggle to maintain fidelity to the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ; there are confrontations with heretics who contradict or deform the pure doctrine of Christ; there are renunciations and sacrifices that oppose the dissolution of the customs of a certain age; finally, there are ecstasies and elevations of spirit that bring Heaven and earth closer together, sublimating the whole order of Creation.

In the life of St. Bonaventure, we see shining through several aspects, some of them apparently contradictory. Without ceasing to be a simple disciple of the Poverello, he became a doctor and master at the important University of Paris, becoming “one of the most important theologians in the history of the Church”[1] Appointed General Minister of the Franciscans, he knew how to masterly combine action and contemplation, without ever abandoning his spiritual and monastic life. In fact, he worked hard for the progress and harmony of the entire Franciscan Order.

The Fruit of a Miracle

Born probably in the year 1217, young John of Fidanza suffered a serious illness and was at death’s door. Although his father was a doctor, he could not cure the boy. His mother entrusted him to the patronage of St. Francis of Assisi and he miraculously regained his health. This episode deeply marked the saint’s life.

Some years later, he went to study in Paris and, after finishing his studies, he wanted to enter the Order of Friars Minor, to follow the ways of St. Francis.

Already wearing the Franciscan habit under the name of Bonaventure, he was ordered to continue his studies, this time in theology at the University of Paris. And so he did. And on the day of his graduation an innocent event occurred, in which the virtue of unpretentiousness shone forth. Two saints were graduating at that time, St. Bonaventure and St. Thomas Aquinas. When they were about to receive their diplomas, a dispute broke out between them. After expressing the various arguments, the son of St. Dominic had to give in, accepting the primacy of Bonaventure.[2]

However, at that time, there was a great controversy over the right of monastic orders to teach at the University. The conflict was appeased and Pope Alexander IV, in 1257, recognized St. Bonaventure as Master and Doctor at the University of Paris.

Minister General of the Franciscans

In the middle of the same year, there was the general chapter of the order and St. Bonaventure was designated Minister General of the Franciscans, the seventh of the order.

In addition to many apostolic journeys and his care to maintain the unity of all the Friars Minor, St. Bonaventure devoted himself to writing many works, especially a book about the life of St. Francis, searching for documents and listening to the accounts of those who had lived with the saint. The title of the work was the Legenda Maior, which was intended to highlight the person of the Founder and his real spirituality, in order to avoid future deviations in the order.

In the general chapter of 1263, the text was recognized as the most faithful biography of the saint and became the official one. In this way, the disciple glorified his spiritual Father, manifesting the configuration that Saint Francis had with Christ and indicating this ideal to all his followers.

Cardinal of the Holy Church

Pope Gregory X, knowing the wisdom of St. Bonaventure, called him to assist in the care of the Holy Church. Thus, he gave him the task of preparing the Second Ecumenical Council of Lyon, in which an attempt would be made to reestablish the union between the Latin and Greek Churches.

Although he worked diligently on this task, he never saw the end of the Council, for during its development, the saint became seriously ill and gave his brave soul to God in the year 1274.

A unique event in history: the Pope ordered all the priests in the entire world to celebrate a Mass for his soul.

This faithful disciple of St. Francis deserves eternal praise for having kept the Franciscan Order united. In fact, his main glory was to highlight the figure of the Founder as an ideal to be followed and imitated.

He was canonized on April 14, 1482, by Pope Sixtus IV.  He was also declared Doctor of the Church in 1588, by Sixtus V, because of the many theological works he wrote.

Pope Benedict XVI comments that St. Bonaventure’s transcription of the moral physiognomy of St. Francis in the Legenda Maior can be summarized as follows: “Francis is an alter Christus, a man who sought Christ passionately. In the love that impels to imitation, he conformed himself totally to Him.” And such was St. Bonaventure’s enthusiasm for his Father, that we could apply the same words to him. His love for the Founder was such that he became a living representation of St. Francis.

By Jiordano Carraro

[1] BENEDICT XVI. Audience on St. Bonaventure, on March 3, 2010. Available at: <www.vatican.va>.

[2] ROHRBACHER. Life of the Saints. São Paulo: Editora das Américas, 1959. v. 13.