St. Bonaventure

born in Tuscany, Italy, of a noble family. He became a Franciscan friar, a bishop and later a cardinal. His call to the monastic life was initiated by a miraculous cure received through the intercession of Saint Francis. As a Franciscan, his intellectual talents were soon discovered and led him to teach and later to assume the job of Master of the Franciscan School at Paris. Bonaventure was a contemporary of Thomas Aquinas; however, his theological writings offer a different perspective. His thought contributed greatly to the Church Council at Lyons, during which he died. His most systematic and extensive work is his "Commentary on the Sentences" of Peter Lombard.

Bonaventure denied the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and championed the knowledge given by God to Christians, as being far superior to all forms of mere human wisdom.

Propers for St. Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor.
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The Collect.

O GOD, who didst make Saint Bonaventure to shine and to burn as a Bishop and Doctor in thy Church; Grant that we may be so inwardly touched by his heavenly doctrine, that we may be filled with the sweetness of the love that dwelt in him; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


The Epistle - 2 Timothy 4:1-8

The Gospel - St Matthew 5:13-20


Reference and Resources:

http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/666/Journey_of_the_Mind_into_God_St_Bonaventure.html http://www.commonprayer.org/calend/propers/bonaven.cfm
http://www.episcopalnet.org/1928bcp/propers/Missal/July14.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Bonaventure

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