Friday, July 15, 2011

Prayer Of The Seraphic Doctor



St Bonaventure, whose feast we celebrate today, is known as the "Seraphic Doctor of the Church" because of his burning zeal and holy passion which is very evident in his writing. Bonaventure was a friend of St Francis and was cured of an illness by Francis.  Bonaventure joined the Franciscans. He lectured at the University of Paris before becoming a Cardinal-Bishop. He instituted reforms, settled internal conflicts, and wrote the first biography of St. Francis. 
I will leave you with this beautiful by St Bonaventure. Let us ask his intercession for the grace to be filled with his great zeal, holy passion and love for Christ and His Church.



Prayer of St Bonaventure
Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most
joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, and with true, calm
and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish
and melt with entire love and longing for Thee, may yearn for
Thee and for thy courts, may long to be dissolved and to be
with Thee.  Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the
Bread of Angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and
supersubstantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every
delightful taste.
May my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, Whom
the angels desire to look upon, and may my inmost soul be
filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst for Thee, the fountain of life, the
fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the
fullness of the house of God; may it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee,
come up to Thee, meditate on Thee, speak of Thee, and do all for the praise and glory of
Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, with
perseverance to the end; and be Thou alone ever my hope, my entire confidence, my riches,
my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my food,
my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession, my treasure; in
Whom may my mind and my heart be ever fixed and firm and rooted immovably. 
 Amen.

4 comments:

  1. Hi Karinann, that is a beautiful prayer. I'm not familiar with it so thank you for sharing! This is one of the things I love about the Community of Catholic Bloggers that I'm able to deepen my understanding of Our Faith by coming here. Thank you and God Bless!

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  2. Karin,
    Thanks for this prayer and post on St. Bonaventure. My husband's birthday is on his feast day and I often ask his intercession for Randy! God bless!

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  3. Great prayer, Karinann! Thanks for posting it.

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  4. We are so blessed with great saints in the Church who leave us such inspiring prayers. It's much better than any one I could make up. Thanks.

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