Today is the Feast Day of Saint Bonaventure
Lord, teach us to see with our heart.
Today is the Feast Day of St. Bonaventure.
How do we truly come to know God? This is one of the most essential questions of human existence, pondered by people in every age. For many, we find ourselves surrounded by towering theological works, complex philosophical arguments, and learned commentaries. While these are great gifts to the Church, we might sometimes wonder if the path to God is reserved for the scholar and the academic. Or that to truly know God we have to be intelligent.
It is here, in this moment of questioning, that the wisdom of St. Bonaventure, the Seraphic Doctor, can be a gentle and illuminating guide. He invites us to consider a path to God that is not first and foremost a matter of the intellect, but of the heart. For Bonaventure, the simple and the uneducated often have a clearer and more direct understanding of God than the learned. This is not to say that learning is a bad thing; rather, it is to remind us that unless our knowledge is rooted in love and humility, it can become a barrier, rather than a bridge, to the Divine.
Imagine a beautiful sunset. A learned person might be able to explain the atmospheric scattering of light that creates the vibrant colors. They can describe the scientific principles at play with great precision. But a simple soul, standing beside them, might be moved to tears of wonder and praise for the Creator. In that moment, who has the deeper "knowledge" of God? The one who can explain the sunset, or the one who is moved to prayer by it? For St. Bonaventure, it is the latter. This is the heart's knowledge, a "tasting" of God's goodness that is available to all, regardless of their level of education. As it is written, "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8).
This is a truth that St. Francis of Assisi, the great spiritual father of Bonaventure, understood so well. He saw the world as a book in which the love of God was written on every page. He did not need a degree in theology to see the glory of God in a flower, a field, or a brother friar. His was a simple gaze, unclouded by pride, and so he saw God everywhere. This is the Franciscan heart that Bonaventure sought to bring into the heart of theology.
So, what does this mean for us today? It is an invitation to cultivate a heart of simplicity and humility. A privileged way to begin this journey is through the ancient practice of Lectio Divina (divine reading), a simple but meditative means to enter into a deeper friendship with Jesus by listening to Him in the Scriptures.
It moves us away from the need for lofty thoughts or intricate theological insights and guides us into a simple, trusting encounter with God. The practice has four simple stages:
Lectio (Reading): Taking a short passage of Scripture and reading it carefully multiple times, allowing the words to sink deeply into the heart.
Meditatio (Meditation): Reflecting on the text by engaging the imagination to enter the Biblical scene, seeing the setting, people, and unfolding action to discover its meaning for one's life.
Oratio (Prayer): Responding personally to the text through prayer—asking for graces, offering praise, seeking healing or forgiveness.
Contemplatio (Contemplation): A receptive gaze toward Christ where, by God's grace, one may be raised to experience the text as mystery and reality, coming into experiential contact with God beyond the words.
This practice teaches us to come to prayer as we are, with open and trusting hearts, ready to receive the love God so freely offers. It trains our spiritual ears, so that whether we encounter a trial or engage in study, our primary disposition is one of humble listening, always asking, "What is God inviting me to learn in this moment?" rather than puffing up our own egos.
Let us ask St. Bonaventure to pray for us, that we may have the grace to seek God with the simplicity and love of a child. For it is to such as these that the Kingdom of Heaven is revealed (Matthew 11:25).
To learn more about the practice of Lectio Divina, download this free Lectio guide here.
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