"The Mind's Road to God" by St. Bonaventure (1221 - 1274)

Rosie Perera

Curiously, the The Medieval Preaching and Spirituality Collection (34 vols.) contains several works by Bonaventure but not this classic. I decided to rectify that omission. Excerpts from this work were required reading in the course "A Christian Perspective on the History of Philosophy" which I took at Regent College.

Description (from CCEL): "Many historians, theologians, and philosophers consider Bonaventure’s essay a masterpiece among the shorter works of medieval philosophy. It contains Bonaventure’s interpretation of a vision St. Francis of Assisi had. In the vision, St. Francis receives the wounds of Christ from a six-winged seraph. As Bonaventure saw it, the six wings symbolized six steps along the road to perfection and the divine. The steps or stages he details integrates the Neoplatonic hierarchy of being with Christian doctrine concerning God’s relationship with his creation."

I got the text from http://www.catholictreasury.info/books/road_to_God/

Don Awalt

Thanks for sharing Rosie! One tip I offer, that I discovered; near the end, there is a footnote "ibid". Given how footnotes display in Logos, an ibid footnote may not be that helpful as you are not necessarily near the prior footnote. I duplicate ibid footnotes, and add the new pg. number etc. if it dictates to (ibid, pg. 37 or ibid., vol III, pg. 12). Just a suggestion if you like it!

fgh

Thanks!

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/456961#Comment_456961

Don Awalt said:

Thanks for sharing Rosie! One tip I offer, that I discovered; near the end, there is a footnote "ibid". Given how footnotes display in Logos, an ibid footnote may not be that helpful as you are not necessarily near the prior footnote. I duplicate ibid footnotes, and add the new pg. number etc. if it dictates to (ibid, pg. 37 or ibid., vol III, pg. 12). Just a suggestion if you like it!

Excellent idea, Don! It was not too late for me to edit my post and update the file.

BillS

Wow, Rosie, thanks once again!

[8-|]

[Y]

Fr Devin Roza

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/457190#Comment_457190

Thanks Rosie!

Allen Browne

Thank you once again, Rosie. Appreciated.

NB.Mick

Thanks again, for all these great books!

George

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/457234#Comment_457234

Thank you Rosie!

Milford Charles Murray

Rosie Perera said:

Curiously, the The Medieval Preaching and Spirituality Collection (34 vols.) contains several works by Bonaventure but not this classic. I decided to rectify that omission. Excerpts from this work were required reading in the course "A Christian Perspective on the History of Philosophy" which I took at Regent College.

Description (from CCEL): "Many historians, theologians, and philosophers consider Bonaventure’s essay a masterpiece among the shorter works of medieval philosophy. It contains Bonaventure’s interpretation of a vision St. Francis of Assisi had. In the vision, St. Francis receives the wounds of Christ from a six-winged seraph. As Bonaventure saw it, the six wings symbolized six steps along the road to perfection and the divine. The steps or stages he details integrates the Neoplatonic hierarchy of being with Christian doctrine concerning God’s relationship with his creation."

I got the text from http://www.catholictreasury.info/books/road_to_God/

Blessings, Rosie!              *smile*             It has taken me four months to finally get ready to make a lovely PB for myself out of the work you have done for your Sisters and Brothers on these Logos Forums!

                    For myself --and in their behalf! -- I thank you very kindly for sharing your Labour of Love with us!            Will be looking forward to enjoying this book and growing as a person!          *smile*

                               One of the things I appreciate about St. Francis is his vast hymnary -- Which St. Bonaventura also appreciated ...

For Example: 

Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.

To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial.

Happy those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.

Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your most holy will. The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks, and serve him with great humility.

And the, one of my very favourite hymns of all ...         *smile*  Tune: LASST UNS ERFREUEN,  Meter: 88.44.88 with Refrain 

---

1.	All creatures of our God and King,
	lift up your voice and with us sing,
	O praise ye!  Alleluia!
	O brother sun with golden beam,
	O sister moon with silver gleam!
	O praise ye!  O praise ye!
	Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

2.	O brother wind, air, clouds, and rain,
	by which all creatures ye sustain,
	O praise ye!  Alleluia!
	Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
	ye lights of evening, find a voice!
	O praise ye!  O praise ye!
	Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

3.	O sister water, flowing clear,
	make music for thy Lord to hear,
	Alleluia!  Alleluia!
	O brother fire who lights the night,
	providing warmth, enhancing sight,
	O praise ye!  O praise ye!
	Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

4.	Dear mother earth, who day by day
	unfoldest bleassings on our way,
	Alleluia!  Alleluia!
	The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
	let them God's glory also show!
	O praise ye!  O praise ye!
	Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

5.	All ye who are of tender heart,
	forgiving others, take your part,
	O praise ye!  Alleluia!
	Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
	praise God and on him cast your care!
	O praise ye!  O praise ye!
	Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

6.	And thou, our sister, gentle death,
	waiting to hush our latest breath,
	Alleluia!  Alleluia!
	Thou leadest home the child of God,
	and Christ our Lord the way has trod,
	O praise ye!  O praise ye!
	Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

7.	Let all things their Creator bless,
	and worship him in humbleness,
	O praise ye!  Alleluia!
	Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
	and praise the Spirit, Three in One!
	O praise ye!  O praise ye!
	Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

 

Ken McGuire

After getting this month's Verbum Free Book of the month plus one, I pulled up my Library and was reminded that I had this PB of Bonaventure. The plus one is a different translation, and also includes other works of Bonaventure, so do get it. But I saw that the Verbum book was tagged with a Bonaventure datatype. I figured it would be nice to have this version also tagged as a destination for the datatype, and shouldn't be too hard to do it, and it wasn't. I then saw that scripture references were in an odd enough format that the compiler would not catch them, and so manually tagged them as well. Along the way I tagged a few words and phrases as Latin, and also did a few other links if I could figure them out quickly.

I would like to thank Rosie for creating the initial personal book and sharing it with us. My additions are meant as a credit and amplification to her initial work.