St. Bonaventure – The Path Between

Barb Spies, OFS, Director of Mission Services and Pastoral Care

St. Bonaventure was a Minister General of the Franciscan Friars and is also noted as a Doctor of the Church. That Doctor title means that he is a saint who has contributed greatly to the theology or doctrine of the church through his writings, research, and study. It makes sense for him to have this title. Born just a few years before the death of St. Francis, he was well educated in Paris. His writings helped lead to a fuller understanding of what it means to be Christian, stressing the imitation of Christ. My favorite aspect of St. Bonaventure is that he worked to not only create deep philosophical and theological works, but also that he lived the simple life of a friar. Robert Ellsberg, author of The Franciscan Saints, notes, “St. Bonaventure tried deftly to steer a middle course between the radical freedom of Francis and the disciplined order of a religious community.”

When he was named as a cardinal, the papal legates arrived at the friary where he lived, but had to wait for him to finish washing the dishes before he would visit with them! Imagine leaving these men waiting while finishing up the chores. Bonaventure said, “The perfection of a religious man is to do common things in a perfect manner, and a constant fidelity in small matters is great and heroic virtue.” St. Bonaventure reminds me of the differences between Mary and Martha in Scripture. One is contemplative, listening to Jesus. One is busy doing the work of keeping others fed and comfortable. Both roles are important, and on any given day, we might take part in both kinds of work.

How do we navigate our various paths? What guides us along our way to allow us to negotiate different roles? For St. Bonaventure, as for St. Francis, the variety of situations pulling at them were resolved in their connection to living the Gospel life. They found Christ at the center, their guidepost along each road they took. Christ is there in the freedom. Christ is there in the discipline. Christ is there with Mary. Christ is there with Martha. We can stroll, march, or jog down our own paths, knowing that there is a way for us to take a variety of routes along the way and that Christ will always be with us.

Blessed Angela: “Concentrate on the presence of God.”