Bonaventure O. F.M. (c. 1217-July 15, 1274) was Minister General of the Franciscan Order, and the Cardinal-bishop of Albano. Bonaventure, who was as the lead representative of thirteenth century Augustinianism, integrated theology and philosophy into a compelling synthesis, which attempted to account for sensible and spiritual reality. As the Minister General of Franciscans, Bonaventure promoted intellectual rigor that sought to harmonize faith with reason.
There are no extant contemporary biographies of Bon-aventure. A Spanish Franciscan, named Zamorra, wrote a life of Bonaventure in the thirteenth century. Unfortunately, this biography is not extant. The earliest available biography of Bonaventure, written by Mariano of Florence, dates from the fifteenth century. Further, the Chronicle of the Twenty-four Generals (c. 1369) contains significant biographical details. While a precise chronology of Bonaventure’s life remains conjectural, a general timeline of significant events may be sufficiently outlined.
Bonaventure, who assumed his father’s name (Giovanni di Fidanza) at birth, was born in Bagnoregio, Tuscany, either in 1217 or 1221, with the latter being the traditional date (Crowley 1974). Bonaventure’s father, who likely practiced medicine, belonged to the noble family of Fidanza di Castello. Bonaventure reports that he endured a serious childhood malady, whereupon his mother, Maria di Ritello, invoked Saint Francis of Assisi, who interceded and brought healing to the young boy (Legenda S. Francisci Prolog). According to a fifteenth-century legend, Francis bestowed upon the young Giovanni the name O buona ventura during this encounter.
Bonaventure entered the Orders of Friars Minor either in 1238 or in 1243. In the mid-1230s, Bonaventure entered the University of Paris, where he studied under the influential Alexander of Hales. In 1254, Bonaventure received his teaching license. Thereafter, Bonaventure lectured at the University of Paris until 1256, when the conflict between the Mendicant orders and secular professors led to a cessation in the Franciscan’s teaching. In 1254, William of Saint-Amour, who was a secular master at the
University of Paris, wrote a treatise titled Liber de antichristo, which condemned the mendicant’s life of poverty. In 1256, Saint-Amour wrote another attack against the mendicants, titled The Perils of the Last Times (Tractatus de perculis novissimorum temporum). Upon the request of Louis IX, king of France, Bonaventure answered Saint-Amour’s invective with his Disputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection (Quaestiones disputatae de perfectione evangelica). In this text, Bonaventure advocated for a moderate approach. In the midst of this turmoil, the papacy decided in favor of Bonaventure and his mendicant associates. Consequently, in October 1256, Pope Alexander IV reinstated the mendicants while condemning the work Saint-Amour. Further, in October 1257, under papal support, Bonaventure entered the academic association of masters of theology. In August 1257, Bonaventure assumed the Franciscan chair in theology at the University of Paris.
On February 2, 1257, Bonaventure was elected as Minister General of the Friars Minor. At this time, the Friars were divided into two camps, the Spirituales and the Relaxati, later known as the Coventuals. The Spirituales followed the literal observance of the rule, with particular emphasis placed on the role of poverty. Contrarily, the Coventuals were open to alterations and novelty within the rule, such as the possibility of the papacy permitting the use of property. Bonaventure, as Minister General, energetically engaged the divisive representatives within both branches of the Friars Minor. Soon after becoming the Minister General, Bonaventure attacked Joachimite Spirituales at an ecclesiastical convocation in Citta della Pieve. Further, Bonaventure composed an encyclical letter, which addressed the reform of the Coventuals. Three years after this encyclical letter, Bonaventure sought to enforce his reforms at the General Chapter of Narbonne. The so-called Constitutiones Narbonenses consists of 12 chapters, which correspond with the chapters within the Franciscan rule.
Upon ecclesial request, in 1260, Bonaventure composed a Life of Francis (Legenda major sancti Francisci). In 1263, Bonaventure’s Life of Francis was declared the authoritative biography at the Chapter of Pisa. In 1264, under the urging of Cardinal Cajetan, Bonaventure reinstated the Poor Clares, which were condemned at the Chapter of Pisa only one year earlier. In 1266, at the General Chapter of Paris, it was decreed that all Lives of Francis, other than Bonaventure’s version, were to be eradicated in order to promote unity throughout the Friars Minor. This ecclesial decision was not unanimously received, opponents of the decision argued the decree was a blatant attempt to silence the early sources of Franciscan history.
Around 1264, Bonaventure founded the Society of Gonfalone in Rome. This society, which stands as one of the earliest confraternities, emphasized the honoring of the Virgin Mary. In 1269, Bonaventure convened his fourth general council, the Chapter of Assisi. At this council, Bonaventure instituted a Mass in honor of the Virgin Mary, which the Franciscan order was instructed to sing every Saturday.
In 1272, Bonaventure convoked another Chapter at Pisa, where further decrees defined the role of the Poor Clares. On May 23,1273, Pope Gregory X appointed Bonaventure to the seat of cardinal. Later that year, in November 1273, Bonaventure was elevated to the bishopric of Albano. In May 1274, Bonaventure resigned from the role of Minister General. In accordance with Pope Gregory’s instructions, Bonaventure organized the Fourteenth Oecumenical Council, which convened at Lyons, May 7, 1274. Pope Gregory presided over the Council of Lyons, while Bonaventure had a decisive role in the shaping the deliberations. In particular, Bonaventure mediated the reunion between the Latin West and Greek East on July 6, 1274.
Bonaventure died at Lyons on July 15, 1274, while the Council of Lyon was in session. The cause of Bonaventure’s death remains unknown. However, Peregrinus of Bologna, who was Bonaventure’s secretary, maintains he was poisoned. The day after his death, Bon-aventure was buried in the church of the Friars Minor at Lyons. On April 14, 1432, Pope Sixtus IV canonized Bonaventure. On March 14, 1588, Pope Sixtus V named Bonaventure as one of the Doctors of the Church, with the honorary title, the ‘‘Seraphic Doctor.’’ Bonaventure’s feast day is celebrated on July 14.
World History
