St. Bonaventure's Life of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ


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Seeing himself as "unequal to so great a task", St. Bonaventure nevertheless endeavored to introduce his readers to the practice of "the most beneficial of all devout exercises, and that which is most capable of leading [them] to the summit of Christian perfection": the contemplation of the life of Our Lord. By "frequent and habitual meditations on that divine subject" even "very illiterate persons" have been raised to such "familiarity, confidence, and love of him" that they have become "profoundly versed in the most sublime mysteries of God". What better way "to arm our breast against the flattering, yet fleeting vanities of the world; to render us steady amidst tribulations and adversities; and finally, to preserve us from vice, and facilitate the possession of every virtue"? He addresses his reader in "plain and unpolished" language, "that you may the more easily comprehend the matter here treated, and study rather to improve your mind and heart than flatter your ears." "I hope still more, that if you are but diligent in the exercise of this devout study, that the Lord, whose life is here treated of, will become your master and instructor."
- Summary by ekortright

Chapters

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St. Bonaventure's Preface 12:02 Read by Eduardo
Chapter I. The Angels intercede for Man's redemption 14:25 Read by Eduardo
Chapter II. The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and her seven petitions to God 10:27 Read by Eduardo
Chapter III. The Incarnation of Christ, and the angelical salutation of the Blessed Virgin 17:58 Read by Eduardo
Chapter IV. Our blessed Lady visits her cousin St. Elizabeth, in whose house the Magnificat and Benedictus were composed 9:46 Read by Eduardo
Chapter V. St. Joseph thinks of dismissing the Blessed Virgin, and God suffers his beloved to be afflicted 9:16 Read by Eduardo
Chapter VI. The Nativity of Jesus Christ 24:50 Read by Eduardo
Chapter VII. The Circumcision of our Lord Jesus Christ 10:53 Read by Eduardo
Chapter VIII. The Epiphany, or manifestation of our Lord Jesus 16:19 Read by Eduardo
Chapter IX. The Blessed Virgin remains at the crib at Bethlehem, till the full term of forty days is expired 4:22 Read by Eduardo
Chapter X. The Purification of our blessed Lady, or Candlemas-day 10:11 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XI. Christ's flight into Egypt 26:31 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XII. Our Lord's return from Egypt 11:58 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XIII. Our Lord remains at Jerusalem 12:02 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XIV. Our Lord's life from his twelfth to his thirtieth year 21:47 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XV. The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ 34:07 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XVI. The fast and temptation of Christ; his return to his mother; the four means to attain to a perfect purity of heart; the great advantages of prayer; the resistance to be made to gluttony; why, and for whom God works his miracles 20:35 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XVII. Christ opens the book in the synagogue 5:38 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XVIII. He calls his disciples 3:55 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XIX. The conversion of water into wine at the marriage-feast 13:37 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XX. The sermon of our Lord on the mount, which he begins by poverty 8:37 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXI. The servant of the centurion and the son of the prince cured 2:26 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXII. The paralytic brought in to our Lord by the house-top and cured 3:26 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXIII. Our Lord cures Simon's mother-in-law 1:49 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXIV. Our Lord sleeps in the boat 1:53 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXV. The widow's son raised by our Lord 1:17 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXVI. Our Lord raises a girl from the dead, and cures Martha 3:42 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXVII. The conversion of Magdalen, and other things 11:46 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXVIII. John sends his disciples to Jesus 2:42 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXIX. The death of St. John the Baptist 9:19 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXX. The conference our Lord had with the Samaritan woman, as he sat, being faint and wearied, by the side of the well to rest himself 5:56 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXXI. The disciples of our Lord pluck ears of corn and eat them, through hunger, on the Sabbath 12:15 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXXII. The Jews having driven our Lord Jesus out of the city to the top of a steep mountain, endeavor to throw him down thence 1:45 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXXIII. The man with a withered hand cured by our Lord Jesus 2:59 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXXIV. The multiplication of the loaves, and how our Lord provides for those who truly love him 7:05 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXXV. Our Lord's flight when they would have made him king; and against worldly honors in general 22:44 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXXVI. Our Lord prays on the mount; and descending walks on the waters; some reflections on prayer 33:29 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXXVII. Christ relieves the daughter of the woman of Canaan who was possessed with the devil; our guardian angels faithfully assist us 6:40 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXXVIII. The Pharisees and others scandalized at the words of our Lord 3:01 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XXXIX. The reward promised by our Lord to those who forsake all for him 7:17 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XL. Our Lord Jesus asks his disciples what the Jews say of him 2:20 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XLI. The glorious transfiguration of our Lord Jesus on Mount Tabor 4:50 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XLII. Our Lord casts the buyers and sellers out of the temple 2:38 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XLIII. The sick man who was healed at the water in Jerusalem, called Probatica Piscina 7:37 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XLIV. Our Lord Jesus received by the two sisters, Mary and Martha; and of the two sorts of lives signified thereby 6:23 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XLV. Our Lord warns the Jews that the church shall devolve on the Gentiles, in the parable of the husbandmen who killed the son of their Lord 2:49 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XLVI. The Jews seek to ensnare our Lord by his own words 2:25 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XLVII. The blind man restored to sight at Jericho; etc. 5:25 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XLVIII. Our Lord goes into the house of Zacheus 2:45 Read by Eduardo
Chapter XLIX. Christ gives sight to the man born blind 2:53 Read by Eduardo
Chapter L. Our Lord retreats from the temple to hide himself, when the Jews would have stoned him 1:44 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LI. The Jews seek a second time to stone him 2:33 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LII. The raising of Lazarus 5:37 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LIII. Christ curses the fig-tree 1:43 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LIV. The woman detected in adultery 2:41 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LV. The conspiracy of the Jews against Christ, and his flight into the city of Ephraim 3:08 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LVI. Our Lord's return to Bethania, where Mary Magdalen anoints his feet 5:30 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LVII. Our Lord Jesus comes to Jerusalem en Palm Sunday riding on an ass 8:22 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LVIII. What our Lord Jesus did from Palm Sunday to the following Thursday 7:23 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LIX. Our Lord's supper the night before his passion, and circumstances relating to it 24:05 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LX. The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and his prayer in the garden 14:55 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXI. Our Lord Jesus betrayed by Judas 8:57 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXII. Our blessed Lord is carried before Pilate, scourged at the pillar, and crowned with thorns 11:07 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXIII. Our Lord is condemned to suffer a cruel death on the cross, and compelled to carry the same to Mount Calvary 9:38 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXIV. Our Lord Jesus Christ is nailed to the cross 6:08 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXV. The words which our Lord spoke while hanging upon the cross: he yields up his spirit 6:43 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXVI. The opening of our blessed Saviour's side with a spear 7:03 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXVII. The descent of our Lord from the cross 4:49 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXVIII. The embalming and burial of our Lord's body 9:36 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXIX. Our blessed Lady's departure from the sepulchre, and return to Mount Sion 7:58 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXX. A meditation on our blessed Lady's conversation with her devout companions 7:39 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXXI. Our Lord Jesus descends into the Limbo of the Fathers 28:03 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXXII. The glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus, and his appearance first to his mother 5:02 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXXIII. The coming of the three Marys to the sepulchre, etc. 2:00 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXXIV. Our Lord's appearance to the holy women 5:51 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXXV. Our Lord's appearance to Joseph, to James the less, and to Peter 3:45 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXXVI. Christ returns to the holy Fathers after his resurrection 3:13 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXXVII. Christ appears to the two disciples going to Emmaus 3:03 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXXVIII. Our Lord appears to the disciples who were shut up on the day of the resurrection 4:04 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXXIX. Our Lord appears to the disciples on the octave of Easter, when St. Thomas was with them 4:34 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXXX. Our Lord appears to his disciples in Galilee 2:03 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXXXI. He appears to them again near the sea of Tiberias 4:41 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXXXII. Our Lord appears to more than five hundred disciples together; some remarks relating to his apparitions in general 4:30 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXXXIII. The glorious ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 24:44 Read by Eduardo
Chapter LXXXIV. The coming of the Holy Ghost 4:40 Read by Eduardo
Appendix. Rhythmical Prayer to the Sacred Members of Jesus hanging upon the Cross. By St. Bernard 43:00 Read by Eduardo

Reviews

thank you


(5 stars)

thank you for sharing this beautiful & insightful piece of scholasticism!


(5 stars)

One of the best books on the life of Mary and Jesus.