St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Chapter 3 : 6

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

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“The Holy Spirit came upon him.” St Francis at prayer,
by Murillo (1645-50). Cathedral of Our Lady (Antwerp).
Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

1. When this vision was related unto him, the man of God was not puffed up with the glorying of men but, recognising the goodness of God in the favours shewn unto him, he was the more keenly motivated to repel the craftiness[1] of the ancient enemy, and to preach the glory of the Cross of Christ. 

2. Now on a day, while in a certain lonely place he was bitterly bewailing the remembrance of past years[2], the joy of the Holy Spirit came upon him, and he was assured of the full remission of all his offences. 

3. Then, carried out of himself, and wholly wrapt in a marvellous light, the horizons of his mind were enlarged[3], and he clearly beheld the future story of himself and of his sons. 

4. Returning after this unto the Brethren, “Be consoled,” saith he, “my dearest, and rejoice in the Lord[4], and be not sad for that ye be few in number, nor let my simpleness nor your own make you afeared, 

5. for the Lord hath verily shewn me that God will cause us to wax into a great host, and will enlarge us in manifold wise with the grace of His blessing.”

Footnotes

[1] “craftiness”: the Latin original has “versutia”: cf. “But I fear lest, as the serpent seduced Eve by his subtilty [versutia], so your minds should be corrupted, and fall from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Cor. xi, 3;

[2] Cf. “I will recount to thee all my years in the bitterness of my soul”: Is. xxxviii, 15 (from the Song of Ezechias).

[3] Cf. “And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth),  That he was caught up into paradise, and heard secret words”: 2 Cor. xii, 3-4.

[4] Cf. “Brethren, be strengthened in the Lord, and in the might of his power”: Eph. vi, 10; “As to the rest, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord”: Phil. iii, 1.

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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.