Writings on the Spiritual Life

Foreword

Foreword I would like to thank Dr. Girard (Jerry) Etzkorn for his “labor of love” in completing these translations. After many years of dedicated work as a member of the Franciscan Institute’s research team that completed the critical edition of Ockham’s theological and philosophical works as well as began work on the critical edition of Scotus’s philosophical works, he responded graciously to my request to undertake this translation project as the first of the many projects he had waited patiently to pursue through the “gift of his freedom” in retirement. It is but one of the many projects he has completed as he continues his, as yet, elusive search for a hole in one! In the preparation of these texts for publication Jerry and I frequently turned to Zachary Hayes, OFM, for his advice and suggestions in an effort to find a better or more adequate way to express Bonaventure’s thought in English to individuals in significantly different times. As always, Zachary responded with great generosity and patience. He made many helpful suggestions with gracious good humor. I acknowledge gratefully the assistance of Giles Bello, OFM, Michael Blastic, OFM, and Dr. Timothy J. Johnson in particular for reviewing and making helpful suggestions as this work progressed and evolved. I want to thank Dr. Oleg Bychkov for his translation of one of the sermons included in the Appendix. I want also to acknowledge gratefully Robert Karris, OFM, for his very generous assistance in translating Bonaventure’s quotations of Sacred Scripture from the Latin Vulgate text, in locating innumerable references, and for his translation of two of the sermons included Writings on the Spiritual Life xii in the Appendix. The knowledge, experience, generosity, and insightful critiques of these and other individuals contributed much to this volume. For any of the volume’s inadequacies or limitations, I take full responsibility. In Bonaventure’s Franciscan vision of Gospel life, I have found inspiration, guidance, consolation, many challenges both academic and personal, as well as the encouragement to continue my personal search for wisdom, to better understand the demands of Gospel love, and to hope joyfully for those things for which my heart yearns. I pursued this project with the sincere hope that many in the English-speaking world would have more ready access to the Seraphic Doctor’s theology of the spiritual life. Along the way, I found great encouragement and assistance, for which I am deeply grateful, from three friends in particular, Kathleen Moffatt, OSF, Elise Saggau, OSF, and Noel Riggs. I also hope that, despite the challenges of completing this work, a variety of men and women, Franciscan brothers and sisters in particular, will have an opportunity to learn more of the enduring wisdom in the works of St. Bonaventure found in this volume. F. Edward Coughlin, OFM July 15, 2006 Abbreviations ACW Ancient Christian Writers CA:ED The Lady Clare of Assisi: Early Documents. Revised Edition and Translation by Regis Armstrong. New York: New City Press, 2006. CCSL Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina. CCSL xiv Sancti Ambrosii Mediolanensis Opera Pars IV Expositio Evangelii secundum Lucam. Fragamenta in Esaiam. Edited by M. Adriaen. Turnhout: Brepols, 1957. CCSL lxxii S. Hieronymi Presbyteri Opera Pars I Opera Exegetica 1: Hebraicae Quaestiones in Libro Geneseos, Liber Interpretationis Hebraicorum Nominum, Commentarioli in Psalmos, Commentarius in Ecclesiasten. Edited by P. Antin. Turnhout: Brepols, 1955. CCSL cxx Bedae Venerabilis Opera Pars II Opera Exegetica 3: In Lucae Evangelium Expositio. In Marci Evangelium Expositio. Edited by D. Hurst. Turnhout: Brepols, 1955. CSEL Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum. CFS Cistercian Fathers Series CSS Cistercian Studies Series FA:ED Francis of Assisi, Early Documents. Volume I: The Saint. Edited by Regis Armstrong, J.A. Wayne Hellmann, William Short. New York: New City Press, 1999. Writings on the Spiritual Life xiv FC Fathers of the Church GGHG Gregory the Great’s Homilies on the Gospel. Glossa Ordinaria Sacrorum Bibliorum cum Glossa Ordinaria…. Tomus Quintus. Lugduni: 1590. Hurst Gregory the Great: Forty Gospel Homilies. Translated from the Latin by Dom David Hurst. CSS 123; Kalamazoo: Cistercian Publications, 1990. LChC Library of Christian Classics Morals Morals on the Book of Job. Library of the Fathers of the Holy Catholic Church. Oxford: J.H. Parker, 18441850 . Volumes I-VI. NAB New American Bible NPNF 1 / 2 Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First or Second Series. Edited by Philip Schaff. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1994-1995. Reprint of 1888/93 editions. Opera Omnia...