Memorial of Saint Bonaventure
To be named first a Bishop, then a Doctor of the Church, a person must have exhibited an outstanding standard of perfection regarding their spirituality and religiosity. They should be an exact model of how to practice one’s faith and understand theology above comparison. Though not flawless, their theological teachings must show they had a hand in the development of early Christian teaching that has survived into these future times.
Saint Bonaventure lived in the 13th century and was canonized in 1482. A member of the Franciscan order, he was a great admirer and follower of Saint Francis of Assisi. Saint Bonaventure wrote extensively on Scripture and the early Fathers of the Church. He seemed to have a way of reconciling differences between groups and could merge different doctrines that included his ideas of truth as the way to the love of God. He was known as a holy man, full of gentleness and fairness. Modern scholars consider him one of his age’s principal men, a steadfast defender of human and divine truth, and a most worthy advocate of Christian wisdom.
In the 13th century, the Church set the process by which a person could be declared a Doctor of the Church. The requirements include that the person must have led a life with great holiness firmly rooted in their beliefs. History has shown Saint Bonaventure to have been a good learner and an outstanding teacher of the faith. The candidate must have already been declared a proclamation by the pope to finalize a saint and their appointment. Saint Bonaventure was declared a doctor of the church in 1587.
Let us pray:
I know that God is with me today just as he was with his saints of old, like Saint Bonaventure. During all the events of our lives, we neither have to fear nor doubt the eternal love and presence of my loving Lord. Amen.
