Today as we celebrate the life of St Bonaventure, Fr Paul reads from Matthew’s Gospel (11: 28-30), in which Jesus exclaims, ‘Come to me, all you that labour, and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn of me, for I am gentle, and humble in heart: and you will find rest to your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’

In recognition of today’s memorial, Fr Paul shares a little about the life of St Bonaventure.

Bonaventure was born in Eturia in about 1218. He became a Franciscan in 1243 and studied philosophy and theology at the University of Paris. He became a famous teacher and was a friend and colleague of St Thomas Aquinas. Bonaventure defended the Franciscan order he belonged to from suspicion and opposition that existed at the time.  He was elected the General of the order in 1255.  He was made Cardinal Bishop in Albano in 1273 and died a year later in 1274

Bonaventure always insisted that the simple and uneducated could have a clearer knowledge of God than the wise.

In the tradition of our church, Fr Paul says today we ask, ‘St Bonaventure, Pray for us!’