Saint Bonaventure, known as "the seraphic doctor," was born at Bagnoregio, in the Lazio region of central Italy, in 1221. Baptised as John, he received the name of Bonaventure in consequence of an exclamation of St. Francis of Assisi, when the saint prayed for John's recovery from a dangerous illness, and foreseeing the future greatness of little John, cried out "O Buona ventura"-O good fortune!
At the age of twenty-two Bonaventure entered the Franciscan Order. Having made his vows, he was sent to Paris to complete his studies. In Paris, he became the intimate friend of the great Saint Thomas Aquinas.
On 24 November 1265, he was selected for the post of Archbishop of York; however, he was never consecrated and resigned the appointment in October 1266.
Like his model Saint Francis, Jesus was the centre of everything—his teaching, his administration, his writing, and his life. So much so, that he was given the title “Seraphic Doctor.”
’The Commentary on the Sentences’, which he wrote at the age of 27, is considered his most important work. Most of his other theological and philosophical works are also somewhat dependent on it.
Bonaventure was instrumental in procuring the election of Pope Gregory X, who rewarded him with the title of Cardinal Bishop of Albano, and insisted on his presence at the great Second Council of Lyon in 1274. There, after his significant contributions led to a union of the Greek and Latin churches, Bonaventure died suddenly and under suspicious circumstances.
Bonaventure was formally canonised in 1484 by the Franciscan Pope Sixtus IV, and ranked along with Thomas Aquinas as the greatest of the Doctors of the Church by another Franciscan, Pope Sixtus V, in 1587.
Saint Bonaventure left behind a structured and renewed Franciscan Order and a body of work all of which glorifies his major love—Jesus.
Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Abudimus
2. Saint Eutropius
3. Saint Jacob of Nisibis
4. Saint Andrew Nam-Thuong
5. Saint Athnasius
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