Son of John Fidanza and Maria di Ritello, and born in Bagnoregio (Viterbo, Italy), the young John was cured of an illness by St. Francis of Assisi. He studied and later taught theology in Paris (1234-1257). It was here that he entered the Franciscan Order (1243), taking the name, Bonaventure. Elected Minister General of the Order in 1257, he kept to the early ideals and governed with great wisdom and reconciliation. He helped in writing a rule for the Isabellan Poor Clares (1259). Elected Cardinal Bishop of Albano (1273), he worked successfully for union between Greeks and Latins at the second Council of Lyons (1274). He died and was buried here in 1274. Canonised by Sixtus IV in 1482, he was declared a Doctor of the Church by Sixtus V in 1588 with the title of Seraphic Doctor.
First Reading: Wis. 8: 2-7, 16-18; Second Reading: 1 Cor. 2: 6-13; Gospel: Mt. 5: 13-19
