Minister's Note for July

Love & Wisdom

Dear sisters and brothers,
     On the 15th of July, we remember a great lover of God: St. Bonaventure. In a Franciscan parish, you might hear this opening prayer at Mass on his feast day:

All-powerful Father,
may we who celebrate the feast of
St. Bonaventure always benefit
from his wisdom and
follow the example of his love.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

(Image: St. David’s Capuchin Friary, Pantasaph, UK)

     Though he was an extremely busy man, St. Bonaventure took time once to help a Third Order person. She was Isabel of Longchamp, sister of King Louis. Isabel wanted to form a community of Franciscan women, and she asked Bonaventure for something to read. He wrote On the Perfect Life for her.
    In that writing, St. Bonaventure introduces Isabel (and us) to the beautiful concept of devotio. By devotio he meant an attitude of reverence and affection towards God, along with a way of life that expresses this attitude. Through the Holy Spirit, devotio is the deep wish to love God and to cling to Him, to understand and absorb God’s Word into one’s very self. For St. Bonaventure, this is the way to wisdom.
      May our desire to love God and neighbor continue to grow! With His help, may we continue to seek the Holy Spirit’s true instruction and formation. And as our father Francis exhorts us, may our devotio always bear good fruit for others.
 
The Lord give you peace, love and wisdom.
 
Donna
Minister, San Luis Rey Fraternity