This is the 750th anniversary of the death of St. Bonaventure, who died at the age of 57, in Lyon, France on July 15, 1274. He was canonized by Pope Sixtus IV in 1482 and was awarded the title Doctor of the Church by Pope Sixtus V in 1588.
Minister General Friar Carlos Trovarelli asked Friar Orlando Todisco, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of St. Bonaventure in Rome, for a commemorative essay on Saint Bonaventure. Friar Orlando writes about Bonaventure as a man of government and professorship. Here’s a brief summary/introduction to the essay. Please visit the Order’s website – ofmconv.net – to read the entire text.
A Man of Government: Primitive Franciscanism was fueled by enthusiasm and sustained by the Gospel message, embodied by Francis. However, it was still lacking a specific biblical-theological structure that would help it carve out a certain niche in the broad ecclesial landscape of the time and serve as a distinguishing feature in comparison with other religious institutions. Friar Orlando writes about how Bonaventure responded to that need by laying down general guidelines within which the Franciscan can create a niche of his creativity, while remaining faithful to the source and at the same time showing its fruitfulness.
A Man of Professorship: Friar Orlando writes about Bonaventure’s philosophical-theological-mystical way of thinking. Bonaventure sets up “Christian wisdom” in opposition to “mundane wisdom.” Isn’t seeing the world as a neutral reality, that belongs to no one, that exists on its own, very different from seeing the world as desired and intentionally created as a garden of peace and well-being, made available to everyone?
This commemorative essay is available on the Order’s website: ofmconv.net.
