“When we pray, the voice of the heart must be heard more than the proceedings from the mouth.”
-St. Bonaventure, the “Seraphic Doctor”
1. Let us give our thoughts to what the Seraphic Doctor says on the love of God. He tells us that it should be the aim of our lives, according to the words of our Lord: “This is the greatest and the first commandment: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind” (Matt 22:387-38). Not as though the love of God were the only virtue and that we need not concern ourselves about any other, but without the love of God the other virtues are not true virtues and cannot lead to salvation. Moreover, the other virtues derive their luster and strength from the love of God, as material things do from the sun. — Unless your industry, temperance, charitable activity, and even your piety are enlivened and filled with the love of God, they are worthless. Have you given this sufficient consideration in the past?
2. Consider that the love of God is of such inestimable value because it excludes all sin. “To love God,” says the Seraphic Doctor, “means to wish God well. But every sin is something evil, an offense against God. Hence, sin cannot co-exist with the true love of God.” The more perfect your love of God is, the more you will abstain from sin. It is, of course, true that the perfect love of God, which implies that all our acts and desires are directed towards God alone, is not possible here upon earth; it will constitute our bliss in eternity. Nevertheless, even here on earth the love of God must exclude everything that is displeasing to God. — If you still fall into many sins, is it due to the fact that you do not love God enough?
3. Consider whence St. Bonaventure derived his ardent love of God. It was from keeping his eyes on the crucifix and meditating on the sufferings of Christ. “The wounds of Jesus,” he said, “are arrows that wound the hardest hearts, and flames that kindle the coldest souls.” Whoever truly contemplates our suffering Savior on the cross can hardly yield to sin. The love of Him who loved us to such great lengths must of necessity fill us with zeal to avoid whatever displeases Him and to make our hearts agreeable to Him. May the powerful intercession of the great Doctor of the Church assist us in following his words and example.
from July 15: St. Bonaventure, The Franciscan Book of Saints, Habig.
