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The Major Legend of Saint Francis
(1260-1263)
Prologue
HERE BEGINS THE PROLOGUE TO THE LIFE OF BLESSED FRANCIS
1 The grace of God our Savior has appeared Ti 2:11
in these last days
in his servant Francis
to all who are truly humble and lovers of holy poverty,a
who, while venerating in him God's superabundant mercy,
learn by his example
to reject wholeheartedly ungodliness and worldly passions, Ti 2:12
to live in conformity with Christ
and to thirst after blessed hope with unflagging desire. Ti 2:13
In an outpouring of kindness,
the Most High God looked upon him,
a little, poor, and contrite man, Is 66:2
so that He not only lifted the needy man
- With this opening sentence, Bonaventure places Francis within the framework of the history of salvation. Paul’s Letter to Titus 2:11, which appears frequently in Bonaventure’s sermons, not only underscores the gift of grace, but also articulates the dimensions of the revelation of the Word, cf. IX 52, 114, 129, 141, 187, 270, 480. While reflecting an Augustinian approach to history, Bonaventure’s use of Acts 2:17 and Hebrews 1:2 shows the influences of the formulations of Rupert of Deutz (1070-c.1135) and the controversial Joachim of Fiore (c. 1130-1202), cf. Bernard McGinn, Visions of the End: Apocalyptic Traditions in the Middle Ages (New York: Columbia University Press, 1979); Joseph Ratzinger, The Theology of History in Saint Bonaventure, translated by Zachary Hayes, (Chicago: Franciscan Herald Press, 1971); Gerhart Ladner, The Idea of Reform: Its Impact on Christian Thought and Action in the Age of the Fathers (New York, Evanston, and London: Harper and Row, 1967). Thus, Francis appears as a symbolic representation of grace, one that is perceived best by the lowly and the poor.
Legenda Maior, Fontes Franciscani, p. 777
LEGENDA MAIOR SANCTI FRANCISCI
Prologus.
Incipit prologus in vitam beati Francisci.
1 1Apparuit gratia Dei Salvatoris nostri
diebus istis novissimis
in servo suo Francisco
omnibus vere humilibus et sanctae paupertatis amicis,
qui superaffluentem in eo Dei misericordiam venerantes,
ipsius erudiuntur exemplo,
impietatem et saecularia desideria funditus abnegare,
Christo conformiter vivere
et ad beatam Spem desiderio indefesso sitire.
2In ipsum namque ut vere pauperculum et contritum,
tanta Deus excelsus benignitatis condescensione respexit,
quod non solum de mundialis conversationis pulvere
suscitavit egenum,