Tag: stbonaofpisa

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, franciscan OFM, JESUIT SJ, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on EVANGELISATION, QUOTES on MISSION, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 14 July – ‘A good soldier of Christ Jesus’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 14 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus” – St Bonaventure OFM (1221-1274) Seraphic Doctor of the Church – 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Matthew 5:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“You are the light of the world.” – Matthew 5:14

REFLECTION – “I shall always love and reverence the Apostles sent by Christ and their successors, in sowing the seed of the Gospel, those zealous and tireless co-operators in propagating the Word, who may justly say of themselves: Let a man so account of us as the ministers of Christ and the dispensers of the mysteries of God. For Christ, like a most watchful and most faithful householder, wished that the Gospel lamp should be lighted by such ministers and delegates, with fire sent down from Heaven and once lighted, should not be put under a measure but set upon a candlestick, so that it may spread its brightness far and wide and put to flight, all darkness and error, rife among both Jews and Gentiles.

Now it is not enough for the Gospel teacher to be a brilliant speaker in the eyes of the people; he must also be as a voice crying in the desert and endeavour, by his eloquence, to help many to lead good lives, lest, if he omit his duty of speaking, he be called the dumb dog that is not able to bark, spoken of by the prophet. Yes, he should also burn, in such a way, that, equipped with good works and love, he may adorn his evangelical office and follow the leadership of Paul. He indeed, was not satisfied with bidding the Bishop of the Ephesians: Thus command and teach: conduct thyself in work as a good soldier of Christ Jesus but he unflaggingly preached the Gospel to friend and foe alike and, said with a good conscience to the Bishops gathered at Ephesus: You know how I have kept back nothing that was for your good but have declared it to you and taught you in public and from house to house, urging Jews and Gentiles to turn to God in repentance and to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Such should be the shepherd in the Church who, like Paul, becomes all things to all men, so that the sick may find healing in him; the sad, joy; the desperate, hope; the ignorant, instruction; those in doubt, advice; the penitent, forgiveness and comfort and finally, everyone, whatever is necessary for salvation. And so Christ, when He wished to appoint the chief teachers of the world and of the Church, did not limit Himself to saying to His disciples: You are the light of the world but also added these words: A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a measure but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all who are in the house. Those churchmen err, who imagine that it is by brilliant preaching, rather than by holiness of and all-embracing love, they fulfil their office.” – St Peter Canisius SJ (1521-1597) Doctor of the Church (Sermon excerpt).

PRAYER – O God, Who gave to Thy people, blessed Bonaventure, as a minister of salvation, grant, we beseech Thee, that we who cherished him on earth as a teacher of life, may be found worthy to have him as an intercessor in heaven. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, MYSTICS, SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 29 May – St Bona of Pisa OSA (c1156-1207) Virgin

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 29 May – St Bona of Pisa OSA (c1156-1207) Virgin, Augustinian Tertiary, Pilgrim, Mystic. Born in 1156 at Pisa, Italy and died in 1207 at Pisa, Italy of natural causes. Patronages – Pisa, Italy, of aeroplan staff, couriers, travel guides, pilgrims, travellers.

The Roman Martyrology reads: “In Pisa, Saint Bona, virgin, who made frequent pilgrimages with devotion to the Holy Land, to Rome and to Compostela.”

Bona was born around 1156 in the parish of San Martino in the district of Kinzica in Pisa, in the region of Tuscany in central Italy. Her mother, Bertha came from Corsica and after she settled in Pisa, she met the merchant Bernhard. They married and Bona was their only child. Bernhard left when Bona was only three years old and never returned and Bertha, therefore, suffered great financial difficulties as a stranger and solely responsible parent for the family.

From her earliest childhood Bona was blessed with mystical gifts – visions, the ability to read hearts and intentions. At the age of seven, she had her first encounter with Jesus. The figure on the Crucifix held out His Hand to her. Later, at another Church, she saw a vision of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and three Saints, including James the Greater. She was frightened by the light around these figures and ran away. St James followed her and led her back to the image of Jesus. Bona observed a very pronounced devotion to James for the rest of her life.

Thanks to Fr Johannes from the Augustinian Canons, at the age of ten, she was able to devote herself to a life as a Tertiary according to St Augustine ‘s rule and she lived in the Church of St Martin to live a communal life together with the Canons as a devoted sister.

She chose to subject her body to increasingly harsh physical penance and she began to wear a metal belt with sharp spikes after a new vision of Jesus.

In 1170, Bona set out on her first journey as a fourteen-year-old, when she went to Jerusalem. There Jesus revealed to her that her father lived there and fought in the Crusades. When her father tried to prevent her from disembarking from the ship, she sought refuge with a Hermit named Ubald, who became her spiritual father. In 1175, on her way home, she was captured by Saracen pirates in the Mediterranean, wounded and imprisoned. But she was rescued by a fellow Christian from Pisa and finally arrived home to her little room in San Martino in Pisa.

There she received new visions and in one of them St James came together with Jesus and asked her to join the pilgrims who made the pilgrimage to his tomb in Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain. Not long after, she set off and this time she took with her a large group of pilgrims on the journey of over 150 miles which was covered in nine months.

From then on, she became one of the official guides on the famous pilgrimage route to Compostela under the protection of the Knights of St James. She made the journey nine times, “full of energy, helpful and selfless, always ready to give courage to the sick with her smile” She also often went to Rome and to the Shrine of the ArchangelMikael on Monte Gargano .

She was already ill when she attempted a final pilgrimage and she collapsed not far from home. She managed to return to Pisa, where she died on 29 May 1207 (or 1208) in her small room near the Church of San Martino. She was buried in the Church of San Martino. Her memorial day is the day of her death on 29 May.

In recent times, Bona has begun to be considered the patron saint of travellers along with Saint Christopher. John XXIII (1958-1963) appointed her on 2 March 1962, as the Patron Saint of Italian tour guides, guides and flight attendants. In her tireless pilgrimages, she can be compared to Saint Godric of Finchale (died 1170) or Saint Benedict Joseph Labre (died 1783).