Tag: blbentivogliodebonis

Saint of the Day – 25 December – Blessed Bentivoglio de Bonis OFM (1188-1232) Confessor, Priest and Friar of the Friars’ Minor of St Francis, Noted preachers, Miracle worker , Ecstatic and visionary. One of Saint Francis of Assisi’s earliest disciples and one of first Franciscans. Born in 1188 at San Severino, Italy and died in 25 December 1232 at San Severino, Italy of natural causes. Also known as – Bentivolius Buoni, Bentivoglio de Bonis of San Severino Marche. He was Beatified on 30 December 1852 by Pope Pius IX.

Bentivoglio was born at San Severino in the March of Ancona, toward the close of the twelfth Century and belonged to the distinguished family of the Buoni or Bonis. About the time that he grew into young manhood, reports of St Francis and his newly founded Order reached his native town and shortly after, a Franciscan preached at San Severino. Bentivoglio was so impressed by his words and his whole appearance that he became eager to join the new Order.

Triumphing over the first objections of his father, Blessed Bentivoglio went to Assisi and received the holy Habit from the hands of St Francis himself. Soon, he distinguished himself among the brethren, by exceptional virtue. Especially noteworthy were his humility, his patience, his obedience and his childlike simplicity.

He possessed the rare gift of affording, both pleasure and edification, by his pious conversation about heavenly things. Although he seemed to say it all in an offhand manner, nevertheless, everyone felt that it came from a holy heart, some invisible power seemed to move them to strive for perfection. Once a bright star was seen shining on his forehead, it was a sign that he was filled with the fire of the Holy Ghost.

The piety and holiness of Blessed Bentivoglio was evident in his devout conversation. Just as one can tell by the ticking of a clock, whether everything is in proper working order within, so, as a rule, one can detect in a person’s conversation, how matters stand interiorly with him. He who thinks only of profits and gain, speaks continually of trade and business. He who is filled with self-love, speaks continually of himself and considers others unimportant. He who is vain speaks of clothes and beauty. He whose heart is not pure and clean, takes pleasure in indecent speech. He who has God in his heart, converses with pleasure about God and religious matters.

After he had become a Priest and confessor, Bentivoglio laboured with the blessed success in the holy tribunal of the Confessional. At prayer, to which he was most devoted, he was often seen in ecstasy, sometimes he was even raised high above the earth.

God glorified Blessed Bentivoglio by many other miracles before and after his death, so that, the veneration that was paid to him at his grave, in the Franciscan Church at San Severino, constantly increased. Pope Pius IX gave the Church’s approval to this veneration, thus declaring him Blessed.

Prayer of the Church:
O God, who didst reveal Thy glory through the words and miracles of Thy blessed Confessor Bentivoglio, mercifully grant that through his intercession and merits, we may be directed to behold Thy sublime Majesty. Through Christ our Lord Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.