“On the Fervor of Francis’ Love” by Bonaventure

Background:  this brief selection is taken from Bonaventure’s Legenda major.  Bonaventure was charged by the Franciscan General Chapter of Narbonne in 1260 to write a biography of Francis.  It was a period when the Franciscan movement was wracked by internal dissension and strife over how they were best to preserve Francis’ vision of a simple evangelical life in the midst of their overwhelming success.  Bonaventure completed the work by 1263, and at the General Chapter of Paris in 1266 it was approved as the “official” biography of Francis for the order.  During the Middle Ages, the term legenda referred an account that was meant to be read aloud and publicly (for example, during meals shared in common by the brothers) and that was organized in certain specific ways.  This organizational structure, according to Bonaventure’s explicit declaration in his “Prologue” to the Legenda major, was not chronological, but thematic or topical (§4) in accordance with the “virtues” of Francis.  The theme of this chapter is the “fervor of his charity” and his “desire for martyrdom.”

Discussion questions:

What is implied in Bonaventure’s claim that “in beautiful things [Francis] saw the most beautiful”?  Why does Bonaventure place this trait of Francis’ character under the them of “fervor of charity”?  How does this account fit into the vision of Bonaventure?  How does this help us understand what we are supposed to consider in this step?