Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Today we celebrate a Franciscan friar, Saint Bonaventure, who was a senior faculty member at the University of Paris and later served as General Minister for their Order for 17 years. A year before he died in 1274, Pope Gregory created him a Cardinal and appointed him to be the bishop of Albano, Italy. He is remembered as someone who taught and wrote about mysticism, practical living, faith, and the doctrines of the Church, demonstrating how these are interconnected. A master teacher and impactful leader!

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us teachers, leaders, committee chairs, bosses, and any of us who are in positions of influence, great or small, that we are all sisters and brothers. He repeats a message we hear from him often: the greatest among us must first be servants. He says, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).

There is, I read, an identity crisis among young men in our society. Addiction to online sports betting, social media, and computer games appears to be rampant. So-called “influencers” sell a message of “power,” “taking control,” making a lot of money, and finding the “right” woman who will cater to their every need. This saddens me greatly.

The saint we celebrate today was a follower of Saint Francis of Assisi, a lover of the poor and every work of God’s creation, all based on his love for Jesus, the center of everything.

I wish that anyone struggling with their identity could find purpose and meaning in the words of Jesus and the life of people like the saint we remember today. May we witness to all we encounter this day to these challenging words proclaimed in today’s Gospel.

Let Us Pray:

Lord, we pray for the courage to follow your heart and your teachings. Help us bear witness to a life dedicated to love, compassion, and peace. May we learn to emulate the kind of life we celebrate today: connecting the dots of the mystical teachings of our wisdom mothers and fathers, the doctrines of our Church, and the opportunities and challenges of our day to day living in a world searching for meaning and purpose.