Saint Bonaventure was originally named John, but as a child he had a terrible sickness. His mother asked Saint Francis of Assisi to pray over him. Saint Francis cried out, “O Buona Fortuna!” or “O, Good Fortune!” because he knew that Little John would become a great saint. After that John was called Bonaventure.
Saint Bonaventure became a Franciscan at the age of 22. He was friends with a fellow scholar and saint, Saint Thomas Aquinas. Saint Bonaventure soon became a beloved professor at the University of Paris. He and Saint Thomas Aquinas were both friends with Saint Louis, the holy king of France.
At the age of 35, he became the head of the Franciscan order. For seventeen years, Bonaventure worked to defend the mendicant (begging) religious orders and strengthen Franciscan spirituality. During this time, he worked on a book about the life of Saint Francis. He became known as the "Seraphic Doctor" because of his compelling love for Jesus Christ.
Saint Bonaventure is the patron saint of intestinal disease. It is believed that Saint Bonaventure almost died from intestinal issues as a child. Saint Bonaventure made Jesus the center of his life. Everything he did, he did because he loved Jesus. Ask Saint Bonaventure to help you make Jesus the center of your life.