Prayers, Saints

Saint Bonaventure Prayer

Category: Saints
Length: 5 minutes
Saint Bonaventure Prayer

St. Bonaventure, also known as the Seraphic Doctor, was a prominent Franciscan friar, theologian, and philosopher in the 13th century. He made significant contributions to the development of Scholasticism and Christian mysticism. He is known for his devotion to prayer and contemplation.

The Prayers of St. Bonaventure express a deep yearning for a closer relationship with God and the desire to know and love Him more fully. These prayers are often recited by those seeking spiritual growth and enlightenment, encouraging complete surrender to God and trust in His infinite wisdom and love.

Historical Context


Saint: Bonaventure

Feast Day: July 15

Patronage: Bowel disorders, authors, theologians

Era: 1221-1274 AD

St. Bonaventure Prayer 1

Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus,
My inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love,
and with true, calm and most holy apostolic charity,
that my soul may ever languish and melt with entire love and longing for Thee,
may yearn for Thee and for thy courts,
may long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.
Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee,
the Bread of Angels, the refreshment of holy souls,
our daily and super substantial bread,
having all sweetness and savor and every delightful taste.
May my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee,
Whom the angels desire to look upon,
and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor;
may it ever thirst for Thee,
the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge,
the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure,
the fullness of the house of God;
may it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee,
run to Thee, come up to Thee, meditate on Thee,
speak of Thee, and do all for the praise and glory of Thy name,
with humility and discretion, with love and delight,
with ease and affection, with perseverance to the end;
and be Thou alone ever my hope, my entire confidence,
my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy,
my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness,
my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help,
my wisdom, my portion, my possession, my treasure;
in Whom may my mind and my heart be ever fixed
and firm and rooted immovably.
Amen.

Best Times for This Prayer:

During spiritual meditation
When seeking deeper love for God

St. Bonaventure Prayer 2

O sweetest Lord Jesus Christ,
I implore Thee, pierce the very marrow of my soul
with the delightful, health-giving dart of Thy love,
with true, tranquil, holy, apostolic charity,
so that my whole soul may ever languish and faint for love of Thee
and for desire of Thee alone.
May it long and pine for Thy courts;
may it ever desire to be dissolved and to be with Thee.
Grant that my soul may hunger for Thee,
Who art the bread of angels,
the comforting nourishment of all holy souls,
our daily and most delectable bread,
our supersubstantial bread,
in which is found every sweet delight.
May my heart ever hunger for Thee,
on whom the angels lovingly gaze;
may it feed on Thee;
and may the innermost depths of my being
be filled with the sweetness which comes from having tasted Thee.
May my soul ever thirst for Thee,
Who art the source of life,
the fount of wisdom and knowledge,
the brightness of everlasting light,
the flood of all true happiness,
the riches of the house of God.
May I at all times think of Thee;
may I ever seek Thee and ever find Thee;
may I always follow thee and reach Thee;
may Thy holy name be in my heart and on my lips;
and to Thy praise and glory may every work of mine be done.
Humble and discreet, loving and happy,
ever ready and cheerful in Thy service,
may I persevere, by Thy grace, even unto the end.
Be Thou alone and evermore my hope;
be Thou all my trust;
be Thou my wealth, my delight,
my joy, my consolation, my rest, my endless peace.
Be Thou to me as a goodly taste,
as a pleasant perfume, as a soothing sweetness.
Be Thou my food and my refreshment;
my refuge and my help;
my wisdom; my portion,
mine own possession and my treasure.
In Thee, O Lord,
may my mind and my heart remain fixed and firm,
and rooted immovably for evermore.
Amen.

Best Times for This Prayer:

For spiritual enlightenment
When seeking divine wisdom

St. Bonaventure Prayer 3

Blessed is the man who loves thy name, O Mary
Yes, truly blessed is he who loves thy sweet name,
O Mother of God!
Thy name is so glorious and admirable,
that no one who remembers it has any fears at the hour of death.
I ask thee, O Mary, for the glory of thy name,
to come and meet my soul when it is departing from this world,
and to take it in thine arms.
Amen.

Best Times for This Prayer:

For Marian devotion
When seeking Mary’s intercession

St. Bonaventure Prayer 4

Mother of Mercy,
I entrust to you my body and soul,
my thoughts, my actions, my life and my death.
O my Queen, help me,
and deliver me from all the snares of the devil.
Obtain for me the grace of loving my Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son, with a true and perfect love,
and after him, O Mary, to love you with all my heart
and above all things.
Amen.

Best Times for This Prayer:

When seeking Mary’s protection
For growth in love of Jesus and Mary

Scripture Connection

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 3:18, reflecting St. Bonaventure’s emphasis on spiritual growth and wisdom

Prayer Media

Leave a Comment