The Life and the Mystical Thoughts of St. Bonaventure

Subject Areas : Christianity

Hamid Mahmoudian ¹ (ندارد)

Received: 2014-11-24 Accepted : 2014-11-24 Published : 2007-11-22

Keywords: oneness of Being, Oneness of perception, meditation, Christian&#x0D, &#x0D, mysticism, union, purification, Trinity, annihilation, Divine Oneness,

Abstract :

St. Bonaventure is undoubtedly one of the most distinguished andeffective figures in Christian mysticism. As the second founder ofFranciscan order, he gives an account of St. Francis' biography andworks; beside that, he deals with the Christian mysticism in his works.Although his place among the Franciscans is similar to the place ofThomas Aquinas among the Dominicans, the account of his life is notas clear as Aquinas' biography. However, his works could help us tounderstand his character and thought. For example, his book entitledThe Journey of the Mind to God (1259 C. E.) is one of the mostimportant works on Christian mysticism. This article tries to survey hisbiography and his works as well as his ideology and his mystical pointof view.