Bonaventure Quotes

Italy, Philosopher
1221 – July, 15, 1274.

Saint Bonaventure, born Giovanni di Fidanza, was an Italian medieval Franciscan, scholastic theologian and philosopher. The seventh Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor, he was also Cardinal Bishop of Albano. He was canonised on 14 April 1482 by Pope Sixtus IV and declared a Doctor of the Church in the year 1588 by Pope Sixtus V. He is known as the "Seraphic Doctor". Many writings believed in the Middle Ages to be his are now collected under the name Pseudo-Bonaventure.

Also known as Theologian

Chastity without charity is a lamp without oil.

Bonaventure
- Charity
- Oil
- Chastity
In beautiful things St. Francis saw Beauty itself, and through His vestiges imprinted on creation he followed his Beloved everywhere, making from all things a ladder by which he could climb up and embrace Him who is utterly desirable.

Bonaventure

It maketh God man, and man God; things temporal, eternal; mortal, immortal; it maketh an enemy a friend, a servant a son, vile things glorious, cold hearts fiery, and hard thing liquid.

Bonaventure
- Cold
- Charity
- Servant
Although you feel tepid, approach with confidence, for the greater your infirmity the more you stand in need of a physician.

Bonaventure
- Feels
- Needs
- Approach
Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary.

Bonaventure
- Powerful
- Religious
- Army
Come, let us give a little time to folly... and even in a melancholy day let us find time for an hour of pleasure.

Bonaventure
- Change
- Pleasure
- Hours
Christ has something in common with all creatures. With the stone he shares existence, with the plants he shares life, with the animals he shares sensation, and with the angels he shares intelligence. Thus all things are transformed in Christ since in the fullness of his nature he embraces some part of every creature.

Bonaventure
- Animal
- Existence
- Christ
To know much and taste nothing-of what use is that?

Bonaventure
- Knows
- Use
- Taste

Any old woman can love God better than a doctor of theology can.

Bonaventure
- Love
- Woman
- Doctors
The best perfection of a religious man is to do common things in a perfect manner. A constant fidelity in small things is a great and heroic virtue.

Bonaventure
- Perfect
- Religious
- Virtue
Mary seeks for those who approach her devoutly and with reverence, for such she loves, nourishes, and adopts as her children.

Bonaventure
Every creature is a divine word because it proclaims God

Bonaventure
Not only do they offend thee, O Lady, who outrage thee, but thou art also offended by those who neglect to ask thy favors ... He who neglects the service of the Blessed Virgin will die in his sins ... He who does not invoke thee, O Lady, will never get to Heaven ... Not only will those from whom Mary turns her countenance not be saved, but there will be no hope of their salvation ... No one can be saved without the protection of Mary.

Bonaventure
- Art
- Christian
- Heaven