Aesthetics as a Philosophical and Theological Space in the St. Francis of St. Bonaventure’s Major Legend

Manuel Lázaro Pulido,Esteban Anchústegui Igartua

doi:10.3390/rel13020114

Abstract

This paper demonstrates that the figure of St. Francis of Assisi, as expounded by St. Bonaventure in his work Legenda Major (Major Legend), cannot be understood without certain philosophical and theological keys. Following an expository methodology, we point to Saint Francis as a theological aesthetic model. In this sense, we focus on five characterisations found in the Major Legend, introducing their aesthetic meaning, as well as the philosophical and theological significance of St. Bonaventure. We refer to St. Francis as a contemplator of nature, lover of poverty, an imitator of the crucified Christ, a brother of humankind and a Lord’s knight and minstrel, to conclude that the aesthetic model of St. Francis, as found in St. Bonaventure, can only be understood starting from theological (mystical) and philosophical ascension.

Highlights

IntroductionA certain liturgical tone that is characteristic of hagiographic language (Goullet 2011), bearing in mind that liturgy is an aesthetic manifestation of the divine mystery
Rather than focusing on a controversy surrounding the aesthetic of the philosophy of religion, this study aims to highlight the medieval innovation of introducing a hagiographic language with philosophical and theological depth through the aesthetics introduced with the figure of St
Francis’ aesthetic expression, a model spiritual itinerary that culminates in conformation to Christ, positively actualising the flight of the neo-Platonic soul, which is capable of reaching the supernatural, a place much richer than the Ithaca of Odysseus

Summary

Introduction

A certain liturgical tone that is characteristic of hagiographic language (Goullet 2011), bearing in mind that liturgy is an aesthetic manifestation of the divine mystery In this sense, rather than focusing on a controversy surrounding the aesthetic of the philosophy of religion, this study aims to highlight the medieval innovation of introducing a hagiographic language with philosophical and theological depth through the aesthetics introduced with the figure of St. Francis. Simplicity is the best way to live a peaceful and fulfilled life (Verdú 2019) This aesthetic representation of the saint from Assisi cannot be understood without St. Bonaventure’s theological reading throughout his work and especially in his

The Major Legend

Conclusions