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About The Georgia bulletin (Atlanta) 1963-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 14, 1989)
Page 4 • Faith Today As biblical people are viewed within the context of their times — as their culture, language, thought patterns and customs are grasped, we begin to realize what they were like and that they were much like us in many ways. Is there anyone in the Bible like you — anyone who feels the way you do, thinks like you, hurts like you do or enjoys life the way you do? As people dig deeper and deeper into the Bi ble, they begin to realize that the customs of biblical times differed from customs today. It becomes clearer and clearer that the language, the thought patterns and the lifestyle of biblical people uniquely reflected their times. As this kind of understanding of the Bible is pursued, however, there is a risk to avoid. It is the risk that in seeing the Bible’s cast of characters in the context of their own times, it will begin to appear that they have no place within the context of our times. Biblical people then could become inaccessible to us, remote, irrelevant. The Bible, which emerges in the context of its own times, is not confined to those times. And one goal of a better understanding of the Bible is to see just how real its characters are. As biblical people are viewed within the con text of their times — as their culture, language, thought patterns and customs are grasped — we begin to realize what they were like and that they were much like us in many ways. Quite clearly, of course, many biblical characters strike a chord with the people of any age or time. The urgent appeal to Jesus by a father whose daughter was dying; the rich man who sought an answer to life’s meaning; the joy of Mary as she realized she was an expectant mother; the grief of the family of Lazarus at his death. It isn’t difficult to identify with these people, to envision them as real-life individuals. It is even possible to make biblical people the object of one’s contemplation. Try this method. Turn to the story of your favorite biblical per son — someone in the Gospels, perhaps, or in St. Paul’s letters. Read the passage that tells of this character. Then, close your eyes for a moment. Draw the biblical character you have selected into focus. Allow your imagination to “paint” a pic ture of that person in action. Picture the person together with others. Hear the person's voice. Realize that this is a person with hopes and fears and an imagination too. Among the Bible’s cast of characters are many saints. Like all saints they are memorable because in some ways they are able to appeal to the best in us, to challenge us, to renew us. Though different from us in many ways, they are like us in key ways. They are not nearly as remote as you may have thought. ♦•♦•♦•♦•••♦•♦•♦•♦•♦•♦•♦•••♦•♦•♦•♦•♦•♦•♦•♦••A*ILDREN S PLACE A learned leader By Janaan Manternach Catholic News Service T he world knows him as Bonaventure, but when he was born around 1217, his parents named him John. His father was probably a doctor in an Italian town near Viterbo. Once, as a boy, John became so ill that neither his father nor any other doctor could cure him. Desperately, his family prayed to St. Francis of Assisi, who had died a few years earlier. The sick boy began to get better. He and his family believed Francis’ prayers led to his recovery. From then on John’s whole life centered around Francis of Assisi and the community of friars Francis had begun. John studied with the Fran ciscans in a nearby town as a teen ager and in Paris as a young man. Around 1243 he decided to become a Franciscan. As a Franciscan he became known by the name Bonaventure. He studied theology at the University of Paris. He became a professor there. Students loved his courses on the Bible and theology. People all over Europe studied his writings. Some professors were jealous of him. They also did not like the Fran ciscans. Even some of his brother friars strongly disagreed with Bonaventure’s teachings. But most of his Franciscan brothers so loved and respected him that in 1257 they elected him their superior general. Bonaventure traveled around Europe getting to know his brother friars better. He tried to understand their problems so he could help them. Bonaventure visited the places where Francis had lived. He talked with older friars who had known Francis. Then he wrote a biography of St. Francis. Meeting so many wise and holy friars, and learning more about St. Francis, had a big impact on Bonaventure. He became more prayerful and spiritual. He wrote influential books on how to be a better follower of Jesus and St. Francis. He became a more powerful preacher. Bonaventure helped many friars resolve their differences, especially on how poor they should be as Franciscans. He had such an impact on Franciscans and the Franciscan way of life that many called him the second founder of the order. Pope Gregory X made Bonaven ture the cardinal-bishop of Albano in Italy. The pope asked him to help plan an important meeting called the Second Council of Lyons in 1274. At the council, Bonaventure helped reunite the Eastern Churches with Rome after a long separation. Before the council ended, Bonaventure died unexpectedly on July 15. There were many tears at the funeral of this great and good man. Most people who ever knew him loved and admired him greatly. In the year 1482, the pope canonized him a saint. A century later, another pope gave Bonaventure the title of doctor — or teacher — of the church. (Ms. Manternach is the author of catechetical works, Scripture stories and original stories for children.) Complete the sentence Fill in the blanks with words from the story to finish the sentences below. 1. Bonaventure was the cardinal-bishop of in Italy. 2. Bonaventure studied with the as a teen-ager and as a young man. 3. The was an important church meeting held in 1274. 4. Bonaventure was named a saint in the year . 5. During his sickness as a child, Bonaventure’s family prayed to to cure him. 6. At the , students loved Bonaventure’s courses on the Bible and theology. suej jo XijSjaAjun '9 'spuey is g V 'suoA-| jo ipunoo puooss e 'sueospuey z 'oueqiv 1 :Sd3MSNV What do you think? □ Here is a statement that is true of the saints: They were people who loved God. Can you add to that statement two statements of your own about the saints? From the bookshelf The Bible story of Jonah is fascinating, and there are many adaptations written especially for children. A particularly delightful one is Jonah and the Whale, by Marcia Williams. The words are only a part of what makes this adaptation so notewor thy. The illustrations also are charming. The story opens with three illustrations to accompany the sentence, “Many, many moons ago, in the land of deserts and date palms, God spoke to a man named Jonah.” (Random House, 201 E. 50th St., New York, N.Y. 10022. 1989. Paperback, $4.95.)
