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 St.
Bonaventure, known as "the seraphic doctor," was born at Bagnorea in
Tuscany, in 1221. He received the name of Bonaventure in consequence of an
exclamation of St. Francis of Assisi, when, in response to the pleading of
the child's mother, the saint prayed for John's recovery from a dangerous
illness, and, foreseeing the future greatness of the little John, cried out
"O Buona ventura"-O good fortune!
At the age of twenty-two St. Bonaventure entered the Franciscan Order.
Having made his vows, he was sent to Paris to complete his studies under the
celebrated doctor Alexander of Hales, an Englishman and a Franciscan. After
the latter's death he continued his course under his successor, John of
Rochelle. In Paris he became the intimate friend of the great St. Thomas
Aquinas. He received the degree of Doctor, together with St. Thomas Aquinas,
ceding to his friend against the latter's inclination, the honor of having
it first conferred upon him. Like St. Thomas Aquinas, he enjoyed the
friendship of the holy King, St. Louis.
At the age of thirty-five he was chosen General of his Order and restored a
perfect calm where peace had been disturbed by internal dissensions. He did
much for his Order and composed The Life of St. Francis . He also assisted
at the translation of the relics of St. Anthony of Padua. He was nominated
Archbishop of York by Pope Clement IV, but he begged not to be forced to
accept that dignity. Gregory X obliged him to take upon himself a greater
one, that of Cardinal and Bishop of Albano, one of the six suffragan Sees of
Rome. Before his death he abdicated his office of General of the Franciscan
Order. He died while he was assisting at the Second Council of Lyons, on
July 15, 1274.
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