St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Chapter 5 : 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 V : Of the austerity of his life and of how all created things afforded him comfort

- 2 -

“The devils are afraid of austerity.” St Francis of 

Assisi in the wilderness, by Clasude Mellan (1638).

Public domain, via Wellcome Collection (PDM 1.0).

1. Once when he was asked how in such scant clothing he could protect himself from the bitterness of the winter’s cold, he made answer in fervour of spirit: “If through our yearning for the heavenly fatherland we have been inwardly kindled by its flame, we can easily endure this bodily cold.”

2. He abhorred softness in clothing and loved austerity, declaring that for this John the Baptist had been praised by the Divine lips[1]. 

3. In sooth, if ever he perceived softness in a tunic that was given him, he had it lined with small cords for he would say that, according unto the Word of Truth[2], it was not in poor men’s huts, but in Kings’ houses, that softness of raiment was to be sought. 

4. He had learnt by sure experience that the devils are afraid of austerity, but that by luxury and softness they are the more keenly incited to tempt men[3].

5. Accordingly, one night when by reason of an infirmity affecting his head and eyes he had, contrary unto his wont, placed a feather pillow beneath his head, the devil entered therein and vexed him until the morning, distracting him in divers ways from his exercise of holy prayer; finally, calling his companion, he had the pillow – and the devil withal – carried far away from the cell[4]. 

6. But as the Brother was leaving the cell carrying the pillow, he lost the power and use of all his limbs until, at the voice of the holy Father, who perceived this in spirit, his former powers of mind and body were fully restored unto him.

Footnotes

[1] “Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to see? a man clothed in soft garments?” Matt. xi. 7-8; Luke vii, 24-25.

[2] “Behold they that are clothed in soft garments, are in the houses of kings.” Matt. xi. 8

[3] Cf. “I will say to my soul: Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years take thy rest; eat, drink, make good cheer. But God said to him: Thou fool, this night do they require thy soul of thee: and whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.” Luke xii, 19-2.

[4] Cf. “And when he [Jacob] was come to a certain place, and would rest in it after sunset, he took of the stones that lay there, and putting under his head, slept in the same place.” Gen. xxviii, 11.

 +       +        +

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.