Enjoy today's meditation about Saint Bonaventure's spiritual foundation. 🙏
July 23, 2024
Hello John,
Today's Saint of the Day features Bridget, a woman who, from the age of seven, had visions of Christ crucified. She dedicated her life to emphasizing charity over spiritual favors and founded the Bridgettines Order. Despite facing challenges and opposition, Bridget made a significant impact through her work against Church abuses.
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From age 7 on, Bridget had visions of Christ crucified. Her visions formed the basis for her activity—always with the emphasis on charity rather than spiritual favors.
She lived her married life in the court of the Swedish king Magnus II. Mother of eight children—the second eldest was Saint Catherine of Sweden—Bridget lived the strict life of a penitent after her husband’s death.
Bridget constantly strove to exert her good influence over Magnus; while never fully reforming, he did give her land and buildings to found a monastery for men and women. This group eventually expanded into an Order known as the Bridgetines.
In 1350, a year of jubilee, Bridget braved a plague-stricken Europe to make a pilgrimage to Rome. Although she never returned to Sweden, her years in Rome were far from happy, being hounded by debts and by opposition to her work against Church abuses.
A final pilgrimage to the Holy Land, marred by shipwreck and the death of her son, Charles, eventually led to her death in 1373. In 1999, Bridget, Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, were named co-patronesses of Europe.
Reflection
Bridget’s visions, rather than isolating her from the affairs of the world, involved her in many contemporary issues, whether they be royal policy or the years that the legitimate Bishop of Rome lived in Avignon, France. She saw no contradiction between mystical experience and secular activity, and her life is a testimony to the possibility of a holy life in the marketplace.
Light is at the heart of Bonaventure’s spiritual vision. Bonaventure’s God is a fountain of love and light. Christ is the light of the world, illuminating and freeing our spirits to solidarity with and service to humankind, grounded in unity with God. The beginning of the Gospel of John joins theology, spirituality, and practice. In this spirit, Bonaventure describes God’s light shining in all things, a fountain of light and love, an inexhaustible stream flowing through creation. Our lives, like the roots of a tree, are nourished by “an ever-flowing fountain that becomes a great and living river.”
Contemplate the following words, reading them a few times in silence and noticing where they inspire you today.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it…. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. (John 1:1–5, 9)
If there’s one thing the many different kinds of saints show us, it’s that there are many ways to live out the call to holiness. St. Clare is one among many reminders that female saints are strong women with ideas on what it means to radically follow Jesus and boldly proclaim that through their lives.
Pray
Dear God, St. Clare is a reminder to all Christians that following Jesus requires a bold ascent of our will and life. For many people of her day, she was considered “too much” or “a bit out there.” Sometimes passion is misunderstood as craziness. However, like Jesus, we are called to do what our Father asks of us, regardless of what others say or think.
Act
As St. Clare was bold in unique ways in her life, where is the voice of the Spirit calling me to boldness in new ways today?
Today's Pause+Pray was written by Patricia Breen. Learn more here!