Saint of the Day – 14 July – St Bonaventure (1221-1274) Confessor, Bishop, Doctor

Saint of the Day – 14 July – St Bonaventure (1221-1274) – Seraphic Doctor of the Church, Confessor, Friar of the Friars Minor Order of St Francis, Bishop, Cardinal, Theologian, Philosopher, Writer, Mystic, Preacher, Teacher. One of the eaqrly Biographers of St Francis.

St Bonaventure (1221-1274)
Bishop and Cardinal,
Doctor of the Church
By Fr Francis Xavier Weninger SJ (1805-1888)

Practical Lessons on the life of this great Doctor

I. THE LOVE AND DEVOTION OF ST BONAVENTURE to the Passion and Death of our Lord, was great beyond description. He meditated upon them daily. The Crucifix was continually before his eyes and before it, he said his prayers, either prostrate on the ground or on bended knees.

I hope that you are not among those who are ashamed to keep an image of Christ in their room! – As in that case, I must remind you of the saying of our Lord, that, on the Judgement-day, He will be ashamed of those,, who on earth, are ashamed of Him.
I will suppose, therefore, that you have a Crucifix in your room but why do you so seldom prostrate yourself before it? Why do you so seldom meditate on the Passion and Death of the Saviour? Is this a sign of love and gratitude towards Him? If any human being had suffered, for love of you, only half what Christ the Lord suffered, or, if he perhaps had died to save you from death, how would you feel towards him? And why have you not the same feelings towards your Redeemer?

Endeavour, at least, to show greater love for Him in future. Let no day pass without praying before the Crucifix, raise your eyes to it sometimes during the day and manifest, by short prayers and pious ejaculations, your love and devotion towards your suffering Saviour, for example: “With my whole heart I love Thee, O Jesus and, it is bitter grief to me that I have offended Thee, O merciful God!”
Or “Cleanse my soul with Thy Precious Blood.”
Or, “Jesus Christ, Who didst die for me upon the Cross, have mercy on me!”

II. ST BONAVENTURE VERY SELDOM received Holy Communion or said Mass, without shedding tears. Love to the Saviour in the most Holy Sacrament thus moved his heart.

How great is your devotion and love for the Blessed Sacrament, especially at the times when you receive it?
How much time do you give to prayer before and after Holy Communion? Do you purify your soul from every stain by a sincere Confession?
Do you adorn it with virtues that it may be a worthy dwelling for so great a Guest, as the only Son of the Almighty?
Do you appear with due reverence at the table of the Lord?
How much time do you give to thanksgiving after your dear Saviour has come to you and what is your devotion during the same?
Examine yourself on these points and correct yourself where you have been negligent.

Before all things, however, take care that you never receive your Lord while in mortal sin,
“For” says St James of Nisibis (Died 338) “this is a crime that cannot be excused,” a crime, the wickedness of which is so great, that it deserves no pardon, when committed voluntarily, as it offends Christ our Lord above all others.
You know, you believe that He Whom you receive is not only your Saviour but also your Judge, Who has power to condemn you. Before Him you will soon appear to receive your sentence for all Eternity. How dare you, therefore, receive Him unworthily, when you know that you thus draw upon yourself, the wrath of your Judge and render yourself deserving of everlasting punishment?!
Is there any crime, any blasphemy, which can be compared with this? And does there exist a punishment great enough to atone for so horrible an offence towards our dear Lord?
“Woe to him, eternal woe, who dares to go unworthily to the table of the Lord,” says the Venerable Bede.

“Judas, the traitor, was the first to go to Holy Communion in mortal sin. What happened to him is known to you. At the moment he committed the Sacrilege, the devil took possession of him and incited him to betray his Lord.
Guard yourself that you may not imitate his wickedness! otherwise, you will receive the same punishment.
Let no one dare to approach the table of the Lord like Judas,” says St John. Chrysostom.