Spiritual Thoughts for the week

July 18th

St. Bonaventure (July 15th), Franciscan and Doctor of the Church, was born in 1217. Born Giovanni, he became ill as a young boy and was miraculously cured after his mother implored St. Francis of Assisi to intercede. After his healing he was known as Bonaventure, which means "good fortune." At 23, he joined the young community of St. Francis. A scholar and university friend of St. Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventure was a humble yet wise man. He is considered the "second founder" of the Franciscan Order and called the "Seraphic Doctor." It is said that when the Pope's messengers arrived to tell him that he had been named a Cardinal and to give him the red hat of the office, he was washing the dishes at the friary because it was his turn to clean the kitchen. He told them to put the hat on a tree outside until he was done! Bonaventure's symbol on his coat of arms is thus a cardinal's hat on top of a tree! (from Immaculata magazine)