Bonaventure: The Soul’s Journey into God, The Tree of Life, The Life of St. Francis

by Bonaventure

Publisher:

Paulist Press

, 1978

Overview

Named “The Prince of Mystics” by Leo XIII, Bonaventure (1217–1274), friar and professor at the University of Paris, was considered a great spiritual master in his own lifetime. These great works show the core of his vision. Gain a clearer perspective on Bonaventure’s unique and mystical path of faith. These resources will provide scholars and worshippers alike with rich lessons and examples from the writings of a celebrated example of ancient Christian piety.

Key Features

• Devotional classics written by an academically trained author from the middle ages
• Fully integrates and cross references with other resources from your Logos library
• Helpful translation is in readable, contemporary style

Contents

Top Highlights

“He has taught the knowledge of truth according to the threefold mode of theology: symbolic, literal and mystical, so that through the symbolic we may rightly use sensible things, through the literal we may rightly use intelligible things and through the mystical we may be lifted above to ecstasy.” (Pages 62–63)

“Corresponding to this threefold movement, our mind has three principal perceptual orientations. The first is toward exterior material objects and is the basis for its being designated as animal or sensual. The second orientation is within itself and into itself and is the basis for its being designated as spirit. The third is above itself and is the basis for its being designated as mind.⁷ By all of these we should dispose ourselves to ascend into God so as to love him with our whole mind, with our whole heart and with our whole soul (Mark 12:30; Matt. 22:37; Luke 10:27). In this consists both perfect observance of the Law and Christian wisdom.” (Page 61)

“It reflects also the threefold substance in Christ, who is our Ladder: bodily, spiritual and divine.” (Page 61)

“But turning from the true light to changeable good, man was bent over by his own fault, and the entire human race by original sin, which infected human nature in two ways: the mind with ignorance and the flesh with concupiscence. As a result, man, blinded and bent over, sits in darkness and does not see the light of heaven unless grace with justice come to his aid against concupiscence and unless knowledge with wisdom come to his aid against ignorance.” (Page 62)

Product Details

• Title: Bonaventure: The Soul’s Journey into God; The Tree of Life; The Life of St. Francis
• Author: Bonaventure
• Series: The Classics of Western Spirituality
• Publisher: Paulist Press
• Print Publication Date: 1978
• Logos Release Date: 2016
• Pages: 384
• Era: era:medieval
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Catholic Church; Theology › Early works to 1800; Theology
• ISBNs: 0809121212, 9780809121212
• Resource ID: LLS:BNVNTRSLSSFRNCS
• Resource Type: text.monograph.biography
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T19:14:16Z

About Bonaventure

Bonaventure, born Giovanni di Fidanza (1221–1274) born John of Fidanza, was an Italian medieval scholastic theologian and philosopher. The seventh Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor, he was also a Cardinal Bishop of Albano. He was canonized on 14 April 1482 by Pope Sixtus IV and declared a Doctor of the Church in the year 1588 by Pope Sixtus V. He is known as the “Seraphic Doctor”. Many writings believed in the Middle Ages to be his are now collected under the name Pseudo-Bonaventura. He is honored as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church.