Fr. Paschal Mary, MFVA | September 29, 2025
Evening Sermon of Saint Bonaventure, October 4, 1267
Behold my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations.
It was nearing the end of Bonaventure’s life and he had for 10 good years led the Friars as Minister General in their celebration of Saint Francis of Assisi. The Two Lives, the Major and Minor, had been completed and approved. His “image” of Francis would hold sway even to our day, guiding the Friars in a particular way of life.
Taking as his starting point the prophecy of Isaiah 42:1, the Paris Morning Sermon of October 4, 1267 lays out a model of perfect humility, tried and true virtue, then consummate love. But in the Evening Sermon Bonaventure does something surprising.
The Lord showed his delight in Saint Francis by choosing to speak to him not as a stranger, but as an intimate friend, for the crucifix spoke to him, which is now preserved by the Sisters at San Damiano.
Perhaps you may ask: “What really happened there?” Then I in turn will ask you:* “What took place when the angel said to the Virgin Mary: ‘Hail Mary, full of grace?’ ” or “What did Zechariah experience when the angel, standing on the right side of the altar of incense, spoke to him?”
When Francis came to San Damiano – the context of this historical moment is a lesson for another day – the Lord “showed his delight” in him. Bonaventure has set him already up as the “servant” upheld by God upon whom He has placed His Spirit.
God is “at home” with Francis, no longer as Stranger but as intimate friend. Francis is Chosen and Beloved. God delights in Him and “alights” upon him in the Spirit. The Spirit has descended upon Francis who will soon “bring forth justice to the nations.”
Bonaventure does not repeat here the words from the Crucifix: “Francis, go, rebuild my house which, as you see, is all being destroyed!” Rather he reinterprets it in line with the revelations of the archangel Saint Gabriel to elderly Priest Zechariah in the Jerasualem Temple then to the young Virgin Mary in a Nazareth hovel.
What took place when the angel greeted Mary, announcing the truth of her innocence and fullness of being delighted in by God, then to Zechariah when his prayer was heard, this happened to Francis. Like Zechariah Francis says nothing in his writings about this experience, but like Mary this pushes him forward as Francis brings Jesus into the world.
Francis experienced a movement towards the Gospel of Peace which allowed him to bring forth a higher form of Justice for the Nations. Francis brought reconciliation, compassion, he brought Jesus and the peace that only He can bring.
I know there has to be many more fruits to pick from this passage… and I look forward to hearing any thoughts you may have. Like Francis, what would it mean to have the same experience as Zechariah and Mary?