Franciscan Perspectives on the Eucharist - St. Bonaventure - The Tree of Life

Saint Bonaventure (1217 - 1274) was canonized by the Catholic Church on April 14, 1482. He is a doctor of the Church and considered to be the second founder of the Franciscan Movement. Below is text from St. Bonaventure's The Tree of Life

Jesus, Consecrated Bread³⁴

16. Among all the memorable events of Christ’s life, the most worthy of remembrance is that last banquet, the most sacred supper. Here not only the paschal lamb was presented to be eaten but also the immaculate Lamb, who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Under the appearance of bread having all delight and the pleasantness of every taste (Wisd. 16:20), he was given as food. In this banquet the marvelous sweetness of Christ’s goodness shone forth when he dined at the same table and on the same plates with those poor disciples and the traitor Judas. The marvelous example of his humility shone forth when, girt with a towel, the King of Glory diligently washed the feet of the fishermen and even of his betrayer. The marvelous richness of his generosity was manifest when he gave to those first priests, and as a consequence to the whole Church and the world, his most sacred body and his true blood as food and drink so that what was soon to be a sacrifice pleasing to God and the priceless price of our redemption would be our viaticum and sustenance. Finally, the marvelous outpouring of his love shone forth when, loving his own to the end (John 13:1), he strengthened them in goodness with a gentle exhortation, especially forewarning Peter to be firm in faith and offering to John his breast as a pleasant and sacred place of rest.

O how marvelous are all these things,

how full of sweetness,

only for that soul,

having been called to so distinguished a banquet,

runs

with all the ardor of his spirit

so that he may cry out

with the Prophet:

As the stag longs for the springs of water

so my soul longs for you,

O God³⁵

*34 Cf. Matt. 26:17–29; Mark 14:12–25; Luke 22:7–38; John 13–17.

*35 Psalm 41:2

Bonaventure: The Soul’s Journey into God; The Tree of Life; The Life of St. Francis, ed. Richard J. Payne, trans. Ewert Cousins, The Classics of Western Spirituality (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1978), 139