St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Chapter 4 : 5-6

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 4 : Of the advancement of the Order under his hand, and of the confirmation of the Rule already sanctioned

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1. After this, Francis, shepherd of a little flock[1], led his band of twelve Brethren unto Saint Mary of the Little Portion (Portiuncula) – with heavenly grace going before – so that in the place where  the Order of Minors by the merits of the Mother of God had taken its beginning, it might by her aid gain an increase. 

2. There too he became a herald of the Gospel, going round among cities[2] and fortified places, proclaiming the Kingdom of God, not in words learned of human wisdom, but in the power of the Holy Ghost[3]. 

3. He seemed unto them who beheld him to be like a man of another world; one, to wit, who had his heart ever set on Heaven and his face turned toward it, and who endeavoured to draw all men upwards. 

4. From this time, the vine of Christ began to put forth a shoot bearing the fragrance of the Lord, and the flowers produced therefrom became the rich fruit of sweetness, honour, and righteousness[4].

Footnotes

[1] Cf. “Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom.” Luke xii, 32.

[2] Cf. “And Jesus went about all the cities, and towns, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom”: Matt. ix, 35.

[3] Cf. “And my speech and my preaching was not in the persuasive words of human wisdom, but in shewing of the Spirit and power;” 1 Cor. ii, 4; “Which things also we speak, not in the learned words of human wisdom; but in the doctrine of the Spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”: 1 Cor. ii, 13; “Go thou, and preach the kingdom of God.” Luke ix, 60.

[4] Cf. “As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odour: and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches.” Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv, 23.

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“That virgin dearest unto God, Clare...Mother of the Order of Poor Ladies.” 
St Clare and nuns of her Order (artist n/k, 14th. century). Convent of San
Damiano, Assisi. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. 

1. For, enkindled by the fervour of his preaching, very many folk bound themselves by new rules of penitence following the pattern received from the man of God; and that same servant of Christ ordained that their manner of living should be called the Order of the Brethren of Penitence[1]. 

2. Of a truth, even as the way of penitence is known to be common unto all that strive after Heaven, of how much worth in the sight of God was this Order – embracing clerks and laymen, virgins, and married folk of either sex – may be noted by the many miracles wrought by some of its members. 

3. There were also maidens converted unto perpetual virginity and among these was that virgin dearest unto God, Clare[2]. She was the first little plant among them, who like a pure white blossom breathed fragrance and shone like a star exceeding bright. 

4. She is now glorified in heaven[3], and rightly honoured by the Church on earth, she that was the daughter in Christ of the holy Father Francis, the little poor one, and herself the Mother of the Order of Poor Ladies.

Footnotes

[1] Ordo Fratrum de Paenitentia : sometimes called the Order of the Brothers of Penance.

[2] St Clare of Assisi: 16 July 1194 – 11 August 1253.

[3] Canonized in 1255 by Pope Alexander IV. Feastday 12 August.

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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.