VATICAN - Benedict XVI in Bagnoregio (4) - “In this Year for Priests, I would like to invite priests especially to listen to this great doctor of the Church and to reflect more profoundly on his teaching of wisdom rooted in Christ.”

Bagnoregio (Agenzia Fides) – Departing from the Shrine to the Madonna della Quercia, the Holy Father traveled in helicopter to Bagnoregio, where, in the Cathedral of San Nicola, he venerated the relics of the “Sacred Arm” of Saint Bonaventure. Shortly afterwards, in Piazza Sant'Agostino, he held an encounter with the people of Bagnoregio. The Pope later returned to Castel Gandolfo.
In his address, Benedict XVI greeted the religious, civil, and military authorities, and all those present. He then recalled the presentation that Giovanni Fidanza, who later became Friar Bonaventure, makes of himself in the Divine Comedy, highlighting that “ in the important tasks that he had to undertake in the Church, he always postponed attention to temporal realities -- "erroneous endeavors" -- in favor of the spiritual good of souls. Here, in Bagnoreggio, he spent his childhood and adolescence; then he followed St. Francis...He was able to establish a profound and lasting bond with the poor man of Assisi, drawing from him ascetic inspiration and ecclesial genius.”
The Holy Father continued: “It is not easy to summarize the extensive philosophical, theological and mystical doctrine that St. Bonaventure left us. In this Year for Priests, I would like to invite priests especially to listen to this great doctor of the Church and to reflect more profoundly on his teaching of wisdom rooted in Christ. He directs every step of his speculation and mystical tension to wisdom that flowers in holiness...On remembering this profound researcher and lover of wisdom, I would also like to express my encouragement and appreciation for the service that theologians are called to give, in the ecclesial community, of that faith that seeks understanding, that faith which is a 'friend of intelligence' and which becomes a new life according to God's plan.”
Reflecting on the doctrinal and mystical patrimony left behind by Saint Bonaventure, Benedict XVI recalled that “he was, in the first place, a tireless seeker of God, from the time of his studies in Paris until his death.” In his writings, he indicates the path to be taken, which is “a committed path of faith,” that “involves the whole person striving, through Christ, to the transforming love of the Trinity.”
The Pope continued: “In addition to being a seeker of God, St. Bonaventure was a seraphic singer of creation who, following St. Francis, learned to 'praise God in all and through all creatures,' in which 'shines the omnipotence, wisdom and goodness of the Creator' (ibid. I, 10). St. Bonaventure presents a positive vision of the world, gift of God's love to men: He recognizes in it the reflection of the highest Goodness and Beauty that, following St. Augustine and St. Francis, assures us that it is God himself. God has given it all to us. From him, as original source, flow truth, goodness and beauty...How useful it would be if also today we rediscovered the beauty and value of creation in the light of divine goodness and beauty!”
Lastly, Saint Bonaventure was a messenger of hope. “We find a beautiful image of hope in one of his Advent homilies, where he compares the movement of hope to the flight of a bird, which spreads its wings as far as possible, and employs all its energies to move them. In a certain sense, it make its whole being a movement to rise and fly. To hope is to fly, says St. Bonaventure. But hope exacts movement from all our members and our projection to the authentic stature of our being, to God's promises...May St. Bonaventure help us to 'spread the wings' of hope, which drives us to be, as he was, incessant seekers of God, singers of the beauties of creation and witnesses of that Love and Beauty that 'moves everything.'” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 7/9/2009)