St Bonaventure’s Life of St Francis : Chapter 5 : 10-11

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

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1. At another time, the servant of God was afflicted by a very grievous sickness, at the hermitage of Saint Urban[1] and, feeling his strength failing, he had asked for a draught of wine. He was told there was no wine there that could be brought unto him; whereupon he bade that water should be brought. When it arrived, he blessed it, making the sign of the Cross over it. 

2. At once that which had been pure water became excellent wine, and that which the poverty of the lonely place could not provide was obtained by the purity of the holy man. 

3. Tasting thereof, he forthwith so easily recovered his strength as that the new flavour and the renewed health – by the sense of taste and by the miracle renewing him that tasted – attested with twofold witness his perfect laying aside of the old man and putting on of the new[2].

Footnotes

[1] Now known as the Sacro Speco di San Francesco / the Sacred cave of St Francis; near Narni in Umbria, Italy.

[2] Cf. “But now put you also all away: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, filthy speech out of your mouth.  Lie not one to another: stripping yourselves of the old man with his deeds, And putting on the new, him who is renewed unto knowledge, according to the image of him that created him.” Col. iii, 8-10.

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“He thought he had exchanged this world for another.”
St Francis Comforted by an Angel, by Ribalta (1620).
Museo del Prado. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

1. Nor did created things alone obey the servant of God at his beck, but everywhere the very providence of the Creator stooped unto his good pleasure.

2. Thus, on a time when his body was weighed down by the suffering of many infirmities together, he had a yearning for some tuneful sound that might incite him unto gladness of spirit, yet discreet decorum would not allow this to be rendered by human agency. Then the Angels gave their services to fulfil the good pleasure of the holy man. 

3. For one night while he was wakeful, and meditating on the Lord, on a sudden was heard the sound of a lyre of wondrous harmony and sweetest tune[1]. 

4. No one was to be seen, but the coming and going of a lyrist was betokened by the volume of sound, now here, now there. 

5. With his mind uplifted unto God[2], he enjoyed such sweetness from that melodious strain as that he thought he had exchanged this world for another[3]. 

6. This was not hidden from the Brethren that were his close companions, who oft-times perceived, by assured tokens, that he was visited of the Lord[4] with such exceeding and continual consolations as that he could not utterly hide them.

Footnotes

[1] Cf. “The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody”: Sir. xl, 21.

[2] Cf. “If he turn his heart to him, he shall draw his spirit and breath unto himself.” Job xxxiv, 14.

[3] Cf. “So whensoever the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, David took his harp, and played with his hand, and Saul was refreshed, and was better, for the evil spirit departed from him.” 1 Kings (1 Samuel) xvi, 23.

[4] Cf. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people”: Luke i, 68.

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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.