"Let us permit a Saint to labour for a Saint."

"Let us permit a Saint to labour for a Saint."

-St. Thomas Aquinas, speaking of his friend Bonaventure upon finding him engaged in writing the life of St. Francis of Assisi.

Acta of St. Bonaventure, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church (taken from Matins of his Feast).
Online Source: www.breviary.net

Second Nocturn
Lesson iv
The town of Bagnorea (now called Bagnoreggio) in Tuscany, where St. Bonaventure was born in 1221
Bonaventúra, Balneorégii in Etrúria natus, a letháli morbo adhuc puer, beáti Francísci précibus, cujus religióni, si convaluísset, voto matris dicátus fúerat, evásit incólumis.  Itaque adoléscens, fratrum Minórum institútum amplécti vóluit, in quo ad eam doctrinæ præstántium Alexándro de Ales magístro pervénit, ut séptimo post anno Parísiis magistérii láuream adéptus, libros Sententiárum públice summa cum laude sit interpretátus, quos étiam præcláris póstea commentáriis illustrávit.  Nec sciéntiæ solum eruditióne, sed et morum integritáte vitæque innocéntia, humilitáte, mansuetúdine, terrenárum rerum contémptu et cæléstium desidério mirífice excélluit ; dignus plane, qui tamquam perfectiónis exémplar haberétur, et a beáto Thoma Aquináte, cui summa caritáte conjúnctus erat, sanctus appellarétur.  Is enim, cum sancti Francísci vitam illum scribéntem comperísset : Sinámus, ait, Sanctum pro Sancto laboráre.	Bonaventure was born at Bagnorea in Tuscany.  In his infancy he was dangerously ill, and his mother made a vow that, if he recovered, she would dedicate him to the Order of Blessed Francis.  While he was still a young man he entered the Order by his own wish.  Under the teaching of Alexander of Hales he advanced so quickly in learning, that in seven years he lectured publicly at Paris on the Books of the Sentences, with great applause.  He afterwards explained the same Books by a brilliant Commentary.  He was distinguished, not only for the profundity of his learning, but for the integrity of his morals, the innocency of his life, his humility, meekness, contempt of earthly things, and desire of heavenly treasures ; and was fully worthy to be regarded as a model of perfection, and to be called a saint by blessed Thomas Aquinas, to whom he was united by ties of the closest friendship.  For Thomas, finding Bonaventure engaged in writing the life of St. Francis, said : Let us permit a Saint to labour for a Saint.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
R.  Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum : * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei. V.  Nihil profíciet inimícus in eo, et fílius iniquitátis non nocébit ei. R.  Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.	R.  I have found David my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him. * My hand shall hold him fast. V.  The enemy shall not be able to do him violence ; the son of wickedness shall not hurt him. R.  My hand shall hold him fast.
V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.	V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.
Benedíctio 5: Christus perpétuæ det nobis gáudia vitæ.R.  Amen.	Benediction 5: May Christ bestow upon us the joys of life eternal. R.  Amen.
Lesson v
Divíni amóris flamma succénsus, erga Christi Dómini passiónem, quam júgiter meditabátur, ac Deíparam Vírginem, cui se totum devóverat, singulári ferebátur pietátis afféctu ; quem in áliis étiam verbo et exémplo excitáre, scriptísque opúsculis augére summópere stúduit.  Hinc illa morum suávitas, grátia sermónis et cáritas in omnes effúsa, qua singulórum ánimos sibi arctíssime devinciébat.  Quam ob rem, vix quinque et trigínta annos natus, Romæ summo ómnium consénsu generális órdinis miníster eléctus est ; susceptúmque munus per duodevigínti annos admirábili prudéntia gessit ac laude sanctitátis.  Plura constítuit regulári disciplínæ et amplificándo órdini utília ; quem una cum áliis ordínibus mendicántibus advérsus obtrectatórum calúmnias felíciter propugnávit.	He was consumed with the flame of divine love, and had a special feeling of devotion to the Passion of Christ the Lord, which was the subject of constant meditation to him ; and to the Virgin Mother of God, to whose service he vowed himself ; and this devotion he strove also to arouse in others both by word and example, and he laboured to spread it by his writings and treatises.  And so came that sweetness of manner, grace of speech, and the charity which he extended to all, by which he completely and utterly conquered every soul.  Wherefore, when only thirty-five years of age he was elected, at Rome, by unanimous consent, Minister General of the Order ; and having accepted the office, he fulfilled it for eighteen years with admirable prudence and the recognition of his sanctity.  He made many rules, useful for regular discipline and the increase of the order ; which, together with the other mendicant orders, he defended successfully against the calumnies of their enemies.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
St. Clare and St. Bonaventure
R.  Pósui adjutórium super poténtem, et exaltávi eléctum de plebe mea : * Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei. V.  Invéni David servum meum, óleo sancto meo unxi eum. R.  Manus enim mea auxiliábitur ei.	R.  I have laid help upon one that is mighty, I have exalted one chosen out of the people. * My hand shall hold him fast.V.  I have found David, my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him. R.  My hand shall hold him fast.
V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.	V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.
Benedíctio 6: Ignem sui amóris accéndat Deus in córdibus nostris. R.  Amen.	Benediction 6: May God enkindle in our hearts the fire of his holy love. R.  Amen.
Lesson vi
St. Bonaventure presiding at the Council of Lyons
Ad Lugdunénse concílium a beáto Gregório décimo accersítus et cardinális epíscopus Albanénsis creátus, árduis concílii rebus egrégiam navávit óperam ; qua et schísmatis dissídia compósita sunt, et ecclesiástica dógmata vindicáta.  Quibus in labóribus, anno ætátis suæ quinquagésimo tértio, salútis vero millésimo ducentésimo septuagésimo quarto, summo ómnium mæróre decéssit, ab univérso concílio, ipso præsénte Románo Pontífice, fúnere honestátus.  Eum Xystus quartus, plúrimis maximísque clarum miráculis, in Sanctórum númerum rétulit.  Multa scripsit, in quibus summam eruditiónem cum pietátis ardóre conjúngens, lectórem docéndo movet : quare a Xysto quinto Doctóris Seráphici nómine mérito est insignítus.	He was summoned to the Council of Lyons by blessed Gregory X, and having been created Cardinal Bishop of Albano, he diligently performed a noted work for the council in very difficult circumstances ; in which the dissensions of the schism were composed, and the dogmas of the Church vindicated.  In the midst of these labours he died, to the great grief of all, in the fifty-third year of his age, and in the year of salvation 1274, and his funeral was honoured by the whole council and by the presence of the Roman Pontiff himself.  Sixtus IV, after Bonaventure had become illustrious for many and great miracles, placed him in the list of the Saints.  He wrote many books, in which the highest erudition and the fire of piety are so united as both to touch and instruct the reader.  Sixtus V on this account worthily distinguished him by the name of the Seraphic Doctor.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
The funeral of St. Bonaventure in the presence of the Roman Pontiff
R.  Iste est, qui ante Deum magnas virtútes operátus est, et omnis terra doctrína ejus repléta est : * Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.V.  Iste est, qui contémpsit vitam mundi, et pervénit ad cæléstia regna. R.  Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. R.  Ipse intercédat pro peccátis ómnium populórum.	R.  This is he who wrought mighty deeds and valiant in the sight of God, and all the earth is filled with his doctrine: * May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.V.  He was a man who despised the life of the world and attained unto the kingdom of heaven. R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R.  May his intercession avail for the sins of all the people.