XV. CANONIZATION 115

{xii}

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

ST. BONAVENTURE _Frontispiece_
_From an Engraving by Eitel,
after the painting
by Cavazzola (P. Morando)_.

THE CORONATION OF OUR LADY To face _To face p. 36_
_From a Photograph by Alinari of the picture
by Pinturichio in the Vatican, Rome._

ST. BONAVENTURE IN ECSTASY WHILE
WRITING THE LIFE OF ST. FRANCIS IS
VISITED BY ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
_From a Fresco by Giacomelli in the
Franciscan Church at Cimiex_ _To face p. 62_

THE PAPAL ENVOY PRESENTING
ST. BONAVENTURE WITH THE CARDINAL'S HAT _Page 73_

ST. BONAVENTURE
_From Raphael's Disputa in the Vatican_. _Page 105_

ST. BONAVENTURE. _Church of S. Maria
degli Angeli, Dintorni
(Tiberio d' Assisi)
From a Photograph by Alinari_. _To face p. 114_

{1}

CHAPTER I.

CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH.

It is refreshing to turn from the depressing materialism of the
present time to the inspiring faith of the Middle Ages. The change of
outlook is invigorating; it has on the soul the effect which a bracing
atmosphere has on the body.

The temper of modern times tends to enfeeble our sense of the
supernatural. If we would maintain undiminished our spiritual vigour
we must withdraw occasionally from its influence and endeavour to
dwell for a time in a more healthy religious atmosphere.

This is why I would take my readers back to the thirteenth century--a
period glowing with the faith and fervour of the great spiritual
revival effected by St. Francis and St. Dominic. I do not intend to
treat of that epoch and its characteristics generally; a field so wide
could be but very imperfectly surveyed in these pages. I think we
shall receive a clearer and more forcible impression of it if we study
it as exemplified in the life of one {2} of those great saints who
personified its spirit in themselves. Of course we should find this in
all its fulness in St. Francis, but there are so many works treating
of the Seraphic Patriarch that only the discovery of some entirely new
aspect of his marvellous life would fully justify another. I do not
pretend to this; but I consider that we shall achieve our purpose by
studying the life of one of Francis' most remarkable sons, viz. the
Seraphic Doctor, St. Bonaventure. This great man presents to us an
asp