"Meditation on Christ in His humanity is corporeal in deed, in fact, but spiritual in mind. . . . By adopting this habit, you will steady your mind, be trained to virtues, and receive strength of soul....Let meditation of Christ's life be your one and only aim, your rest, your food, your desire, your study." - St. Bonaventure

The Church refers to St. Bonaventure as "The Seraphic Doctor," and July 15 is his feast day. The Franciscans look up to St. Bonaventure for his guidance and his significant contributions to philosophy and theology.

Bagnorea, in Tuscany, Italy, is the birthplace of Saint Bonaventure. The general consensus is that he was born in 1221, however, some sources place his birth year as 1217.

According to sources, St. Francis of Assisi's intercession helped St. Bonaventure recover from a serious sickness when he was a young man. In 1243, he continued and joined the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor.

Following his vows, he was moved to Paris to finish his education. First, the Franciscan English physician Alexander of Hales tutored him; thereafter, John of Rochelle did the same.

He became close friends with St. Thomas Aquinas while he was living in Paris, and the two of them were awarded doctorates. Additionally, he became friends with the French King, Saint Louis.

St. Bonaventure was selected to be the Friars Minor superior in 1257. He established peace and order during his 17-year tenure in this role. Because of his immense influence, he is occasionally regarded as the second founder of the Franciscans.

Upon assuming the role following an era of remarkable growth for the order, St. Bonaventure endeavored to maintain a cohesive atmosphere. He dispelled the possibility of internal strife sparked by divergent interpretations of St. Francis of Assisi's message. His realization that the study of philosophy and theology did not conflict with the call to poverty that was at the heart of Franciscan spirituality was fundamental to this effort.

St. Bonaventure suggested a single, comprehensive document that would govern the Friars Minor's day-to-day activities. The General Chapter of the Order in Narbonne approved and ratified the document in 1260.

He diligently gathered information about St. Francis of Assisi and listened to the testimonies of people who had truly known him in order to provide an accurate portrayal of the life and teachings of their founder. With the use of this data, he wrote a biography of the saint, which the General Chapter of the Friars Minor approved in 1263.

In addition, St. Bonaventure penned several mystical and austere writings, the most well-known of which is "The Soul's Journey into God."

Pope Gregory X named him Cardinal and Bishop of Albano in 1273. In addition, the pope requested that he assist in organizing the Second Ecumenical Council of Lyons, a religious gathering that sought to restore ecclesiastical unity between the Greek and Latin churches.

Despite his best efforts, St. Bonaventure was unable to see the Ecumenical Council through to completion. On July 15, 1274, he passed away while the council was still meeting. Pope Sixtus IV canonized him in 1482.

Other Saints of the Day
Saint Peter Tuan
Saint David of Sweden
Saint Jacob of Nisibis
Saint Andrew Nam-Thuong
Saint Edith of Polesworth