Dr. Anthony Lilles - Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts
Jul 16, 2026 · 29 min · 10 segments
Begin a new series with Dr. Anthony Lilles as St. Bonaventure introduces the life, spirituality and enduring witness of St. Francis of Assisi. The post…
Anthony LillesGuestKris McGregorHostI think if you don't mind me adding this, I think this is important not to skip a prologue.
But this I think you really need to spend some time with because do you tell me if I'm wrong, but Anthony, he seems like he wants us first to kind of behold Francis and as a revelation from god a particular grace that's given and from god and look at look at him look behold him and to receive him before you even begin to contemplate his life
yes and in fact um you might say that he kind of sets the table for why we need to look at francis
From the Life of Saint Francis by Saint Bonaventure Prologue The grace of God our Saviour has appeared in these last days in his faithful and devout servant Francis.
Through him it has taught all who are truly humble and lovers of holy poverty to look upon the overflowing abundance of divine mercy, which was so richly poured out upon him.
By his example they have learned to forsake all impiety and worldly desires, to conform their lives to the life of Christ and, with untiring longing, to thirst after the hope of heavenly blessedness.
For so graciously did God look upon this truly poor and contrite man, that he not only raised the poor and needy from the dust of worldly conversation, but also set him to be a light to the faithful, making him a true professor, leader and herald of evangelical perfection.
bearing witness to the light he might prepare before the Lord a way of light and peace in the hearts of the faithful.
The very first line of the prologue, it reads, In these last days, the grace of our Savior, of God our Savior, has appeared in his servant Francis to all who are truly humble and lovers of holy poverty.
That very first sentence, notice there's a little bit of an eschatological sense here.
He's, of course, in these last days, he's quoting Acts, and these days of the church are the last days.
Christ is coming again in glory, and we're at a time now where the judgment on humanity is imminent, but so is the mercy.
So we're in the last days, judgment is over us, and a gift is being given to us in the very face of the judgment that we face.
This psychological stance that a Christian needs to have about human history and about his own life is so fundamental, and Bonaventure starts by taking us right there.
insofar as life has always been this way and it always will be this way, they don't really see the moment that we're in historically or personally.
And Bonaventure wakens that up right away, as does the Acts of the Apostles.
In fact, Bonaventure, almost every line he's going to be quoting in another scripture.
But then in this very first sentence, the next thing he does is he puts Francis in this context.
I think if you don't mind me adding this, I think this is important not to skip a prologue.
But this I think you really need to spend some time with because do you tell me if I'm wrong, but Anthony, he seems like he wants us first to kind of behold Francis and as a revelation from god a particular grace that's given and from god and look at look at him look behold him and to receive him before you even begin to contemplate his life
yes and in fact um you might say that he kind of sets the table for why we need to look at francis
From the Life of Saint Francis by Saint Bonaventure Prologue The grace of God our Saviour has appeared in these last days in his faithful and devout servant Francis.
Through him it has taught all who are truly humble and lovers of holy poverty to look upon the overflowing abundance of divine mercy, which was so richly poured out upon him.
By his example they have learned to forsake all impiety and worldly desires, to conform their lives to the life of Christ and, with untiring longing, to thirst after the hope of heavenly blessedness.
For so graciously did God look upon this truly poor and contrite man, that he not only raised the poor and needy from the dust of worldly conversation, but also set him to be a light to the faithful, making him a true professor, leader and herald of evangelical perfection.
bearing witness to the light he might prepare before the Lord a way of light and peace in the hearts of the faithful.
The very first line of the prologue, it reads, In these last days, the grace of our Savior, of God our Savior, has appeared in his servant Francis to all who are truly humble and lovers of holy poverty.
That very first sentence, notice there's a little bit of an eschatological sense here.
He's, of course, in these last days, he's quoting Acts, and these days of the church are the last days.
Christ is coming again in glory, and we're at a time now where the judgment on humanity is imminent, but so is the mercy.
So we're in the last days, judgment is over us, and a gift is being given to us in the very face of the judgment that we face.
This psychological stance that a Christian needs to have about human history and about his own life is so fundamental, and Bonaventure starts by taking us right there.
insofar as life has always been this way and it always will be this way, they don't really see the moment that we're in historically or personally.
And Bonaventure wakens that up right away, as does the Acts of the Apostles.
In fact, Bonaventure, almost every line he's going to be quoting in another scripture.
But then in this very first sentence, the next thing he does is he puts Francis in this context.
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