Saint of the day · July 15
St Bonaventure
Wednesday, week 15 in Ordinary Time
Liturgical colour : White
Saint Bonaventure, born in the early 13th century, stands as one of the great figures of the medieval Church, honored both for his deep spirituality and towering intellect. Entering the Franciscan Order as a young man, Bonaventure quickly distinguished himself, eventually serving as the Minister General, where he helped guide the rapidly growing Franciscan community through theological and practical challenges. He became known as the 'Seraphic Doctor' in recognition of his ability to unite profound learning with personal holiness, defending and clarifying Franciscan spirituality while synthesizing faith and reason in his theological works. Bonaventure's love for Christ, particularly in the mystery of the Incarnation and the passion, shines through his writings, which also include a famous biography of St Francis of Assisi. Named a cardinal and Bishop of Albano later in life, he contributed greatly at the Second Council of Lyons, working for the unity of the Church. The Church celebrates his memory for his enduring influence as a theologian, mystic, and humble servant, whose gentle wisdom continues to guide Christians seeking union with God.
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Mass readings
"Does the axe glorify itself against the one who wields it?" — Is 10, 5-7.13-16
Thus says the Lord:
Woe! Assyria, the rod of my anger,
the staff of my wrath.
I send it against an ungodly nation,
I commission it against a people who enrage me,
to take plunder and carry off spoil,
to trample them down like mud in the streets.
But Assyria does not see it this way,
it is not what it has in mind:
what it wants is to destroy,
to wipe out many nations.
For the king of Assyria has said:
“It is by the strength of my hand that I have acted,
and by my wisdom, for I am intelligent.
I have moved boundaries of peoples,
I have pillaged their treasures;
strong among the strong, I have dethroned the mighty.
I have laid my hand on the riches of the peoples,
like on a nest.
As one gathers abandoned eggs,
I have gathered all the earth,
and there was not a wing fluttering,
not a beak open,
not a chirp.”
But does the axe glorify itself
against the one who wields it to chop?
Will the saw exalt itself
against the one who uses it?
As if the rod were to wield the hand that lifts it,
as if wood could lift up a man!
Therefore the Lord God of hosts
will cause the well-fed soldiers of the king of Assyria to waste away,
and in place of his glory a flame will be kindled,
the flame of a fire.
– The word of the Lord.
Ps 93 (94), 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 14-15
It is your people, Lord, that they trample,
and your inheritance that they crush;
they massacre the widow and the foreigner,
they murder the orphan.
They say: "The Lord does not see,
the God of Jacob does not know!"
Understand this, you truly foolish people;
Fools, will you ever become wise?
He who formed the ear, would he not hear?
He who fashioned the eye, would he not see?
He who punishes nations, will he not punish?
He who teaches knowledge to man?
The Lord does not abandon his people,
he does not forsake his inheritance:
judgment will again be just;
all who are upright in heart will applaud.
"What you have hidden from the wise and learned, you have revealed to little ones" — Mt 11, 25-27
At that time,
Jesus spoke and said:
"Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
I praise you:
what you have hidden from the wise and the learned,
you have revealed to little ones.
Yes, Father, such was your gracious will.
All things have been entrusted to me by my Father;
no one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son,
and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
– Let us acclaim the word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org