St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Chapter 3 : 1-2

The following posts present The Life of St Francis (1181-1226) written by St Bonaventure (1221-1274) who joined the Franciscan Order in 1243. Confirmed as Minister General in 1257, he later wrote this life of St Francis (Legenda Major Sancti Francisci, c1260-63).

I offer this annotated presentation of St Bonaventure’s biography firstly as a small gift to our gentle Queen and Mother in gratitude for her many graces and favours, at the same time praying she will continue to provide help and protection for the author and his family; and secondly, to honour and thank St Francis whose name I received at my Confirmation in 1961 when I was seven years old.

This presentation of St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis is based on E. Gurney Slater’s English translation published in 1904, to which I have added Scriptural excerpts and occasional comments in footnotes.

Chapter 3 : Of the founding of his Order, and the sanction of the Rule

- 1 -

“This is what I desire, yea, this is what I long for with
my whole heart.” Francis esposing poverty.
Andrea Sacchi (1633). Galleria Nazionale d'Arte, Rome.
Public domain via Wiki Commons.

1. Now Francis, the servant of God, abiding at the church of the Virgin Mother of God, with continuous sighing besought her that had conceived the Word full of grace and truth[1] that she would deign to become his advocate; and, by the merits of the Mother of Mercy[2], he did himself conceive and give birth unto the spirit of Gospel truth. 

2. For while on a day he was devoutly hearing the Mass of the Apostles, that Gospel was read aloud wherein Christ gave unto His disciples that were sent forth to preach the Gospel’s pattern for their life : that they should possess neither gold, nor silver, nor money in their purses, nor scrip[3] for their journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves[4]. 

3. Hearing this, and understanding it, and committing it unto memory, the lover of Apostolic poverty was at once filled with joy unspeakable. “This,” saith he, “is what I desire, yea, this is what I long for with my whole heart.” 

4. Forthwith he loosed his shoes from off his feet[5], laid down his staff, cast aside his purse and his money, contented himself with one scanty tunic, and, throwing aside his belt, took a rope for girdle, applying all the care of his heart to discover how best he might fulfil that which he had heard, and conform himself in all things unto the rule of Apostolic godliness.

Footnotes

[1] Cf. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John i, 14.

[2] Advocata nostra / most gracious advocate and mater misericordiae / Mother of mercy are two titles from the Salve Regina (Herman Contractus, 1013-54). “This hymn is said to be a favourite of our Lady herself by testimony of those who have reportedly seen her in visions. One account concerning this claim relates a vision of St. Dominic (1170-1221). He was entering a corridor of the monastery to resume his midnight prayer vigil when he chanced to raise his eyes and see three beautiful ladies approach him. He knelt before the principal lady and she blessed him. Even though St. Dominic recognized her, he begged her to tell him her name. The lady replied: ‘I am she whom you invoke every evening: and when you say, ‘Eia ergo, advocata nostra,’ I prostrate myself before my Son, entreating Him to protect this Order.” (From the Life of St. Dominic, Lacordaire). See Preces Latinæ (© Michael Martin).

[3] “scrip” refers here to a small bag or satchel (Lat. pēra, ae, f.).

[4] Matt. x, 9-10.

[5] Cf. “And he [the Lord] said: Come not nigh hither, put off the shoes from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground”: Exod. iii, 5; “And he [John the Baptist] preached, saying: There cometh after me one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.”: Mark i, 7.

- 2 - 

1. From this time forward, the man of God began, by divine impulse, to become a jealous imitator of Gospel poverty and to invite others unto penitence. 

2. His words were not empty, nor meet for laughter, but full of the might of the Holy Spirit[1], penetrating the heart’s core, and smiting all that heard them with a mighty amazement. 

3. In all his preaching, he would bring tidings of peace, saying: “The Lord give you peace,”[2] and thus he would greet the folk at the beginning of his discourses. 

4. This greeting he had learnt by revelation from the Lord, even as he himself did afterward testify. 

5. Whence it befell, according unto the prophet’s words, that he – himself inspired by the spirit of the prophets – brought tidings of peace, and preached salvation[3], 

6. and by salutary admonitions allied many unto that true peace who previously were at enmity with Christ and far from salvation.

Footnotes

[1] Cf. “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the desert”: Luke iv, 1.

[2] Cf. “Now the Lord of peace himself give you everlasting peace in every place. The Lord be with you all.” 2 Thess. Iii, 15.

[3] Cf. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, and that preacheth peace”: Is. lii, 7.

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen. 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have lifeeverlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.30-31.