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Superna Caelestis - 1482
Superna Caelestis
Textus latinus ex praefatione generali Operum Omium S. Bonaventurae
(ed. a Colegio a S. Bonavenurae, Ad Claras Aquas, 1882:vol. I, pag. XXXIX-XLIV) eductus est.
SS. D. N. SIXTI PAPAE IV.
DIPLOMA
QUO B. BONAVENTURA EP. CARD. ALBANEN.
IN SANCTORUM CANONEM REFERTUR.
Sixtus Episcopus
Servus Servorum Dei
Ad Perpetuam Rei Memoriam
Superna caelestis patria, civitas Heirusalem, cuius participatio eius in idipsum, ita omnium electorum salvatione laetatur, ut quorum praestantiora sunt merita, copiosiora etiam sumat guadia praemiorum. Quod in excessu mentis suae positus Isias Propheta sensisse videtur, cum diceret (Isa 12, 6.): Exulta et lauda, habitatio Sion, quia magnus in medio tui sanctus. Exultent igitur omnium Angelorum chori, qui , de vacuarum sedium habitatione solliciti, conantur de virtute in virtutem, ad beatas illas mansiones, unde superbi ruerunt spiritus, humilitate perducere. Exultent quoque omnes animae iustorum, qui Christi vestigia sunt secuti atque omnes tam veteris quam novi Testamenti fideles amici Dei, qui, contemptis huius saeculi vanitatibus, concivium numerositate congaudent. Exultet caelum laudibus, resultet terra guadiis, quoniam Sanctorum editio laetitiam habet plurimorum. Valde enim fidei pietas exigit, ut quod pro salute multorum geritur, communibus ubique gaudiis celebretur. Praecipue vero exultet Pontificum coetus beatorum, et sacra Doctorum concio, qui fulgent in caelo tanquam stellae in perpetuas aeternitates, quos inter sanctus Bonaventura, tanquam novum sidus, ex hac lacrymarum valle ad caelestem quae sursum est Hierusalem, vocante eum Domino, migrans, emicuit.
§ 1. Nos autem, qui, disponente Altissimo, ad culmen Apostolatus evecti, christiani gregis curam gerimus, quem pro debito pastoralis officii iucundo Sanctorum collegio conformare, ut debemus, intensis desideriis affectamus, Ecclesiae militanti, pro cuius aedificatione et incremento, ipsum Bonaventuram in catalogum Sanctorum referendum duximus, haud incongrue dicere possumus: Exulta hodie et lauda, habitatio Sion, id est christiana religio, in qua tanquam in monte Sion per veram fidem habitat verus Deus, quoniam magnus in medi tui sanctus. Quippe: In medio Ecclesiae aperuit os eius, et implevit eum Dominus spiritu sapientiae et intellectus et stolam gloriae induit eum, (Eccli. 15, 5.), et coronavit ad portas Paradisi, in qua una cum Angelis gloria et felicitate laetatur.
§ 2. Laetemur itaque et exultemus, quia caelestis illa curia ex nobis habet, cui sit cura de nobis, qui suis nos protegat meritis, quos informavit exemplis, illuminavit doctrinis et miraculis confirmavit; quem Deus dedit cunctis populis in gloriam et honorem, cuius memoria in benedictione est.
§ 3. Ea namque de divinis rebus scripsit, ut in eo Spiritus Sanctus loquutus videatur. Ita pie, religiose et sancte vixit, ut scriptis vita congreret, et quod scribebat doceret exemplo. In quo morum virtus et signorum claritas ita comperta est, ut, congruentibus maximis meritis ac miraculis, verae sanctitatis testimonium a militante Ecclesia debeatur eidem.
§ 4. Nam cum in flore virente iuventutis, humanis abiectis illecebris, divino se addixisset servitio, Religionem B. Francisici, quae per ardua tendit, ingressus, tantum sedula lectione et assidua oratione profecit, ut cum Sapiente merito dicere posset: Optavi, et datus est mihi sensus (Sap. 7, 7.).
§ 5. Illuminatus enim ab eo, qui illuminat omnem sensum, qui lux, via, veritas est et vita, paucorum annorum spatio incredibilem est scientiam consequutus; nec talentum sibi a Domino creditum sudario inligavit, aut terrae infodit, sed ut sapientissimus dispensator in communem utilitatem convertit. In celebri enim Parisiensi gymnasio cathedram rexit, ubi abscondita Scripturarum enucleans, non solum viva voce profuit multis, sed etiam plurima librorum optimorum, tum in sacris litteris tum in maioribus scientiis, monumenta reliquit, quae essent omni tempore posteris profutura.
§ 6. Magnus doctrina, non minor humiliate et vitae meritis, quem Alexander de Ales, doctor clarissimus, cui se in disciplinam sanctus Bonaventura tradiderat, tantae innocentiae ac columbinae simplicitatis expertus est esse, ut dicere solitus fuerit, sibi videri, quo in eo Adam nunquam peccasset.
§ 7. Magnus etiam in Ordine fraturm Minorum, cui unus omnium post beatum Franciscum plurimum profuit. Ad eius enim gubernacula vocatus et Generalis Minister, Domino inspirante, creatus, talem se suis praebuit subditis, ut in illo dominicum illud verbum videretur impletum: Qui maior est vestrum, sit minister vester (Matth. 20, 26 ; 23, 11.).
§ 8. Nam sapientia et morum integritate maior, praelationis officium cum tanta exercuit caritate, quo sponte humilis nunc doctrina, nunc monitionibus, nunc exhortatione fraterna, nunc etiam corporali servitio satagebat, ut bonus Christi miles, inferioribus ministrare. Nec solum quae ab ipso B. Francisco pie et sancte fuerant instituta diligentissime custodivit, sed multa etiam adinventa, quae, crescente fraturm numero, necessaria videbantur, adiecit. Ordinem quoque ipsium in provincias custodiasque divist.
§ 9. Magnus etiam dignitate in Romana fuit Ecclesia. Increbrescente enim fama innocentiae, doctrinae ac prudentiae eius, a fel. rec. Gregorio Papa X., praedecessore nostro, ad cardinalatus est vocatus honorem, ut eius opera in maximis ed difficillimis rebus, quae temporibus illis inciderant, uteretur, in quem Gregorius ipse ob ingentiae viri merita novo est usus exemplo. Statim enim illi Albanen. commisit Ecclesiam, quae non nisi vetustioribus cardinalibus solet committi.
§ 10. Non fefellit expectationem Summi Pontificis ac sacri senatus optimus ac Deo amicissimus vir. Sed in concilio Lugdunensi praesidens omniaque ad Dei laudem dirigens, sedatis discordiis difficultatibusque sublatis, ipsi Ecclesiae maximo usui fuit et ornamento.
§ 11. Quibus rebus aperte cognoscitur, quod statuit illi Dominus testamentum pacis et principem fecit eum, ut sit illi sacerdotii dignitas in aeternum, quem inanis gloria non inflavit, non divitiae sinistrorsum egerunt; sed in fide lenitateque perseverans, pius in Deum, in pauperes misericors, iustus in omnes, ita hoc corruptibile corpus exuit, ut cum Apostolo dicere posset: Bonum certamen certavi, cursum consummavi, fidem servavi, in reliquo reposita est mihi corona iustitiae (II Tim. 4, 7.).
§ 12. Qui etsi ex sola prerseverantia poterat sanctus credi, iuxta illud: Esto fidelis usque ad mortem, et dabo tibi coronam vitae (Apoc. 2, 10), subsequuta sunt tamen post vitam multa maximaque miracula, quae certum sanctitatis eius praebent indicium et nos ad ipsius venerationem inducunt, quem Deus meritis praecedentibus veneradum ostendit. Ipse enim Deus omnipotens, ut suae virtutis potentiam manifestet et nostrae salutis causam pandat, fideles electos suos, quos coronat in caelis, saepe etiam honorat in mundo, ad eorum memoriam signa faciens et prodigia, quo haeretica pravitas confundatur, et fides orthodoxa servetur.
§ 13. Agimus igitur ipsi Deo quantas possumus gratias, quod nos dignos duxerit, per quos haec canonizatio celebraretur, quae licet, divinis litterarum monumentis extantibus coruscantibusque miraculis, iam pridem potuerit rite fieri, numquam tamen antehac vel a principibus vel ab aliis tanta diligentia fuit petita. Nostro tempore carissimi in Christo filii nostri Fredericus Romanorum immperator semper augustus, Ludovicus Francorum christianisssimus, Ferdinandus Siciliae et Matthiam Hungariae reges illustres; dilecti quoque filii nobiles viri Alphonsus Calabriae, Ioannes Mozenico Venetiarum, Ioannes Hacam (Italice leg. Gio. Galeazzo Sforza) Mediolani, et Ioannes Burbon, duces insignes; praeterea civitates Florentinorum, Senensium, Lugdunensium, Perusinorum et, quod tale iubar tulit, Balneoregium, tanto studio tantaque perseverantia petierunt a nobis ut durum et impium putaremus eis in re tam pia resistere, quam etiam Dei monitu petere videbantur. Accesserunt assiduae venerabilis fratris nostri Iuliani, Episcopi Sabinensis, ipsius Ordinis Protectoris, dilectorum quoque filiorum Francisci Samsonis, Generalis Ministri, et Petri de Rodulphis, Procuratoris dicti Ordinis, sacrae theologiae professoris, preces, qui nomine generalis eorum Capituli id tanquam iustum et debitum reposcebat. Legeramus studiosissime Sancti huius divina scripta, quibus, postquam per aetatem aliquid sapere licuit, semper fuimus delectati. Audiveramus quoque ab antiquioribus praefatae Religionis fratribus et gravibus quidem viris, quod et ipsi a maioribus natu acceperant, de sanctimonia vitae eius constantem famam esse; sciebamus de multis maximisque miraculis, nec erat propterea apud nos dubium, quin in triumphanti Ecclesia triumpharet in caelo et venerationem mereretur in terris.
§ 14. Sed memores, nos eundem Minorum Ordinem ex voto ingressos, in quo, divina assistente gratia, in sacris litteris et religiosis moribus utrumque profecimus eademque ministeriatus officia exercuimus, atque inde ad cardinalatus dignitatem, ita ut per consimiles gradus ad pontificatus culmen sublevatos nos fuisse, disponente Domino, cognoscamus, per quos ipse Bonaventura sanctus ad trumphantis Ecclesiae immarcescibilem gloriam evectus est, ne ad id videremur potius affectione propria quam debita devotione moveri, eam adhibuimus diligentiam ac gravitatem, quam rei magnitudo poscebat. Commisimus enim tribus ex venerabilibus fratribus nostris Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalibus, ut de veritate miraculorum mandarent inquiri. Cumque unus ex eis, inchoato processu, ut Deo placuit, ab hac luce migrasset, alium in locum defuncti subrogavimus Cardinalem, quo iam decedente, alium substituimus.
§15. Nec his contenti, cum iam processus ipse pene perfectus esset, et hi qui delegati erant fidelissime retulissent; tamen, qui non videbatur in procedendo tanta, quanta requiritur, observata solemnitas, illum reiterari iussimus.
§ 16. Demum, cum ex uberiori relatione et fide dignorum testium super hoc receptione compertum fuisset, multa et magna a Deo per ipsum Sanctum miracula fieri, quae in conspectu multitudinis cernebantur, nos, ne Spiritui Sancto resitere videremur, qui per os Prophetae laudare Deum in Sanctis suis iubet, in consistorio nostro secreto, huius rei causa habito, eorundem venerablilium fratrum nostrorum S. R. E. Cardinalium vota super huiusmodi canonizatione sumus scrutati. Cumque omnium una eademque fuisset sententia, videlicet ut in Sanctorum numero referri deberet:
§ 17. Consistorium publicum deinde habuimus, in quo, magna multitudine adstante, in triduum orationes ieiuniaque indiximus, ut Deus omnipotens nobis quod factu optimum in hac re esset ostendere dignaretur, nec pateretur, Ecclesiam suam militantem errare, quae se triumphanti conformare studet.
§ 18. Triduo deinde elapso, omnes qui in Romana Curia erant praelatos iussimus convenire, qui ad unum interrogati, quid faciendum videretur, in eandem sentientiam convenerunt beatumque Bonaventuram canonizandum censuerunt.
§ 19. Nos ergo, Dei nutum et voluntatem sequentes attendentesque, iustum ac debitum esse, ut quos Deus honorat in caelis nos venerationis officio laudemus et glorificemus in terris, cum ipse potius laudetur et glorificetur in illis, qui est laudabilis et gloriosus in saecula, hunc diem canonizationis ipsius sancti Bonaventurae in medio basilicae Prinicipis Apostolorum de Urbe, quo maxima omnis generis ordinisque multitudo confluxerat, celebrandum statuimus. Ibi reliquis omnibus legitime peractis, praedictus Ordinis Minorum Procurator, in medio stans, dictum illud beati Ioannis apostoli clara voce proponens, videlicet: Tres sunt, qui testimonium dant in caelo, Pater, Verbum et Spiritus Sanctus (I Ioan. 5, 7.), probavit etiam, habito super praemissis processu, ipsas beatissimae Trinitatis personsas testimonium, quod beatus Bonaventura in caelo sit, praestitisse: Patrem videlicet in miraculorum potentia, Filium in doctrinae sapientia, et Spiritum Sanctum in vitae ipsius bonitate. Et propterea non solum nominibus omnium, qui hanc ipsam canonizationem fieri supplicarunt, set etiam ex parte individuae Trinitatis, Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti, ut ipsum beatum Bonaventuram sanctum pronuntiare dignaremur, instanter, instantius et instantissime requisivit. Confidentes igitur, quod in hac canonizatione non permittat nos Deus errare, qui omnia in ea quomodolibet requisita etiam superabundanter observari fecimus et observavimus, de eorundem fraturm nostrorum S. R. E. Cardinalium omniumque praelatorum in Romana Curia existentium unanimi consensu et maturo consilio de omnipotentis Dei ac beatorum Petri et Pauli Aposotlorum eius auctoritate confisi, beatae memoriae Bonaventuram Balneoregiensem, sacrae theologiae professorem, ex gremio sacri Ordinis Minorum et ex officio Generalatus in Episcopum Cardinalem assumtum, Sanctum esse ac aliorum Sanctorum Dei catalogo adscribendum, adiiciendum et aggregandum fore ac fideliter firmiterque teneri debere decernimus; ipsumque sanctorum Confessorum Pontificum et Doctorum, quos sancta Dei veneratur Ecclesia, consortio solemniter in praesentiarum adscribimus aggregamusque per praesentes.
§ 20. Statuentes etiam et mandantes venerabilibus fratribus nostris Patriarchis, Archiepiscopis, Episcopis ac dilectis filiis dictorum ac patriarchalium, metropolitanarum et cathedralium ecclesiarum Capitulis, et quorumvis Ordinum, tam Mendicatium quam non Mendicantium, professoribus, necnon quibuscumque ecclesiaticis personis, ut festum ipsius sancti Bonaventurae secunda dominica mensis Iulii singulis annis solemniter et devote celebret, divinum officium veluti pro uno Confessore Pontifice et Doctore, tam publice quam privatim, prout contigerit, persolventes.
§ 21. Dilectis vero filiis fratribus praediciti Minorum Ordinis, quatenus huiusmodi officium sub festo duplici et octava, eo modo quo aliorum dicti Ordinis Sanctorum celebrare festa et octavas consueverunt, celebrandi concedimus facultatem.
§ 22. Insuper, eadem auctoritate omnibus vere poenitentibus et confessis, qui in eadem dominica ecclesiam, in qua sanctum eius corpus requiescit, devote visitaverint, annuatim septem annos et totidem quadragenas, his vero, qui aliis temporibus in singulis diebus dominicis, centum dies, illis autem, qui ecclesias fraturm Minorum ubilibet constitutas tam ipsa die festi, quam in octava divinis officiis interfuerint, consimiles indulgentias et peccatorum remissiones, quae in singulis aliorum eiusdem Ordinis Sanctorum festis, ex indultis Apostolicis generaliter promulgatis, Romani Pontifices concesserunt, de iniunctis poenitentiis misericorditer in Domino relaxamus et elargimur.
§ 23. Considerantes praeterea, quanta ab hoc ipso sancto Bonaventura ratione scientiae et sanctitatis vitae episcopalisque et cardineae dignitatis S. R. E. susceperit incrementa, quantamque idem Sanctus cum beato Thomas de Aquino, coaetaneo, condiscipulo et commagistro suo familiaritatem et spirtualem coniuctionem in hac vita servaverit, ut quos in hoc saeculo fraterna iunxit caritas, et eadem in caelo praemia consecutos credimus, praesens Ecclesia pari veneretur honore, praedictum festum inter festa sacri Palatii Apostolici assumentes annumerantesque, eandem indulgentiam in festo praedicto in ecclesia sanctorum Apostolorum de Urbe, quae in festo ipsius sancti Thomae de Aquino in ecclesia beatae Mariae Virginis de Urbe, Minerva vulgariter nuncupata, habetur, concedimus; pariterque decernimus, fratres Minores in alma Universitate Parisiensi eisdem privilegiis posse ac debere uti et gaudere ob ipsius S. Bonaventurae merita, quibus ex apostolicis indultis fratres Praedicatores, qui in eadem Universitate intuitu et gratia eiusdem S. Thomae potiri et gaudere consueverunt et gaudent, aut potiri et gaudere quomodolibet poterunt in futurum.
§ 24. Quocirca omnes et singulos in dignitate constitutos requirimus et monemus, quatenus universis et clericis et populis suarum civitatum, dioecesium et parochiarum praesentes nostras litteras solemniter publicantes, eosdem hortentur, ut Deum ipsum, a quo bona cuncta procedunt, humilter deprecentur, ut ipsius sancti Doctoris et Confessoris Bonaventurae meritis et precibus exoratus, militantem Ecclesiam, Apostolicam fidem et cunctos chrisitfideles a paganorum et aliorum infidelium et haereticorum tueatur incursibus et a periculis cunctis semper protegat ac defendat; et illam quam nobis mundus dare non potest pacem, hostium omnium sublata formidine, firma cum tranquillitate concedat; utque post huius vitae militiam depositumque pastoralis officii ministerium, una cum grege nobis credito, ad sempiterna tandem gaudia pervenire mereamur.
§ 25. Demum, quia difficile foret litteras originales praesentes ad uniuscuiusque notitiam deferri, volumus ac decernimus, quod earum transumtis, sed sigillo Generalis Ministri Ordinis antedicti et manibus duorum notariorum publicorum debite subscriptis, fides adhibeatur indubia in omnibus et per omnia, et illis ubique stetur, ac si originales litterae huiusmodi essent exhibitae vel ostensae.
Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc pagina nostrae constitutionis, ascriptionis, aggregationis, statuti, mandati, concessionis, relaxationis, largitionis, assumtionis, annumerationis, monitionis ac voluntatis infrigere, vel ei ausu temerario contraire. Si quis autem hoc attentare praesumserit, indignationem omnipotentis Dei ac beatorum Petri et Pauli Apostolorum eius se noverit incursurum.
Datam Romae apud Sanctum Petrum, anno Incarnationis dominicae millesimo quadringentesimo octuagesimo secundo, decimo octavo kal. maii. pontificatus nostri anno undecimo.
Superna Caelestis
Canonizing St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio [Bull]April 14, 1482 A.D.
Christopher Wendt - 2017
Pope Sixtus IV
Servant of the Servants of God
As a perpetual memorial
April 14, 1482 A.D.
Supernal, celestial fatherland, the City of Jerusalem, whose own participation is in itself, so rejoices in the salvation of all the elect, that the more outstanding are the merits of these, the more copious does it also receive the joys of the rewards. Which having been placed in an ecstasy of his mind the Prophet Isaias seems to have understood, when he said (Is. 12:6) “Exult and rejoice, dwelling of Sion, since great in your midst is the Saint.” Therefore do the choirs of all the Angels exult, who, anxious over the inhabiting of the empty thrones, begin to conduct (souls) from virtue to virtue, to those blessed mansions, from which the proud spirits were hurled down, via humility. All the souls of the just also exult, who have followed the footsteps of Christ and also all the faithful friends of God as much as from the Old as from the New Testament, who, having contemned the vanities of this age, rejoice together in the multitude of fellow citizens. Let the heaven exult in praise, let the earth resound with joys, since the generation of the Saints has brought gladness to very many. For mightily does the piety of the faith demand, that what is conducted for the salvation of the many, be celebrated everywhere with common joys. In truth does the Pontiff of the union of the blessed especially rejoice, and the sacred assembly of the Doctors, who shine in Heaven as stars for perpetual eternities, among whom saint Bonaventure, as a new luminary, from this vally of tears to the celestial (place), which is Jerusalem on high, with God calling him, migrating (onward), has lept forth.
1. We however, who, with God disposing, having been carried up to the apex of the Apostolate, exercise the care of the Christian flock, which on account of the pleasant debt of the pastoral office, We aspire with intense desire to form into the college of the Saints, as We ought, to the Church Militant, for whose edification and increment, We have caused the same Bonaventure to be registered in the catalogue of the Saints, we can by no means speak unsuitably: Exult today and praise, dwelling of Sion, that is the Christian religion, in which as on Mount Sion there dwells by means of the True Faith the True God, since great in your midst is the Saint. Certainly: “In the midst of the Church He opened his mouth, and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding and clothed him with the stole of glory, (Eccli. 15:5), and He crowned him at the gates of Paradise, in which with the Angels he rejoices in the one glory and felicity.
2. Let us therefore be glad and exult, since that celestial Curia has from us, him to whom the care for us pertains, who protects us with his own merits, whom he instructs with his examples, illumines with his doctrines and confrims with his miracles; whom God gave to all peoples as a glory and honor, whose memory is held in benediction.
3. For he wrote such things concerning divine things, that it seemed the Holy Spirit spoke in him. So piously, religiously and holily did he live, that his life assembled in this writings, and what he wrote he would teach by example. In which the viture of morals and the clarity of signs have been so thoroughly proven, that, with the greatest suitable merits and miracles, to him is due the testimony of true sanctity by the Church Militant.
4. For when in the strong flower of youth, when human things are not valued as things to be thrown away, he would dedicate himself to the divine service, having entered the religion of Blessed Francis, to which he strove through arduous deeds, he advanced so much in diligent reading and assiduous prayer, that one could deservedly say with Wisdom: “I have desired, and understanding is given to me.” (Wis. 7:7)
5. For having been illuminated by Him, who illumines every sense, who is Light, Way, Truth and even Life, he obtained in the space of a few years incredible knowledge (scientia), and he did not bind up the talent entrusted to him by the Lord in a handkerchief, nor did he bury it in the earth, but as a most wise dispensor he converted it for the common usefulness. For in the crowded lecture halls of Paris he reigned from a chair, where explaining in detail the hidden things of the Scriptures, not only did he by his own voice benefit many, but he even left very many of the best books, both in sacred letters and in the primary sciencies, as monuments, which would be for the benefit of all time afterwards.
6. Great in doctrine, not less in humility and in the merits of life, whom Alexander of Hales, the Doctor Clarissimus, to whom he handed himself over to be trained, experienced him to be of such innocence and dovelike simplicity, as he was accustomed to say, that it seemed to himself, that in him Adam had never sinned.
7. Great also in the Order of Friars Minor, by whom as one of the very many after blessed Francis it benefited. For having been called to its helms and created Minister General, with God inspiring them, he showed himself to be such to his own subjects, that in him that word of the Lord seemed to be fulfilled: “Let him that is your greater, be your minister.” (Mt 20:26; 23:11).
8. For greater in wisdom and in the integrity of morals, he exercised the office of prelate with such charity, that willingly humble, his hands were filled ministering to his inferiors, as a good soldier of Christ, now with doctrine, now with admonishments, now with fraternal exhortation, now even with bodily service. Nor did he only guard those things which had been piously and holily instituted by Blessed Francis himself, but he even added many other arrangements, which, with the growing number of friars, seemed to be necessary. He also divided his own Order into provinces and custodies.
9 . Great also was he in dignity in the Roman Church. For growing strong in the fame of his innocence, doctrine and prudence, by Pope Gregory X, Our predecessor of happy memory, he was called to the honor of the Cardinalate, so that he might employ his works in the greatest and most difficult things which were happening in those times, regarding whom Gregory himself employed a new example on account of the vast merits of the man. For immediately he entrusted to him the Church of Alba, which was not accustomed to be committed to any but older cardinals.
10. This best of men and most beloved by God did not deceive the expectation of the Supreme Pontiff and the Sacred College. But presiding in the Council of Lyons and directing all things to the praise of God, having allayed discords and borne away difficulties, he was of the greatest use to and ornament of the Church Herself.
11. Which things he recognized openly, that the Lord established him as a testament of peace and made him a prince, so that the dignity of his priesthood would be forever, whom inane glory did not puff up, nor riches drive to the left (i.e. among the goats on judgement day); but persevering in faith and leniency, faithful to God, merciful to the poor, just to all, he so put off this corruptible body, that with the Apostle he can say: “I have fought the good fight, I have run the race, I have kept the faith, as to the rest a crown of justice has been set aside for me.” (2 Tm 4:7).
12. Who even if from his perseverance alone he could have been believed to be a Saint, according to that (saying): “Be faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Apoc. 2:10), however there followed after his death many and very great miracles, which offer certain evidence of his sanctity and induce us to the veneration of him, whom God manifested by his preceeding merits to be venerated. For the Omnipotent God Himself, to manifest the power of His own virtue and to disclose the cause of our salvation, often even honors His faithful elect, whom he crows in Heaven, in the world, working signs and prodigies in his memory, whereby heretical depravity is confounded, and the orthodox faith guarded.
13. We give thanks, therefore, to God as much as We can, because He has considered us worthy, through whom this canonization is celebrated, which though, with the divine, extant monuments of letters and trembling miracles, could have already long ago been (celebrated) in due form, however never before this had it been sought with such diligence either by princes or by others. In Our time, Our most dear sons in Christ, Frederick the forever august Emperor of the Romans, the illustrious kings: the most christian Louis of the Franks, Ferdinand of Sicily and Matthew of Hungary; and also the beloved sons, the noblemen Alphonsus of Calabria, John Mazencio of the Venetians, John Hacam (who in Italian is called Giovanni Galeazzo Sforza) of Milan, and John Burbon, (all) distinguished dukes; morevover the citizens of Florence, Siena, Lyons, Paris and, that which bore such a beaming light, Bagnoregio, with such earnestness and such perseverance requested it from Us that We would think it hard and impious to resist them in a thing so pious, which they even seemed to request as having been moved by God. The assiduous prayers of our venerable brother Julian, Bishop of Savina, Protector of the Order itself were added, and also (those) of our beloved sons Francis Samson, the Minister General, and Peter of Rudolf, the Procurator of the said Order, a professor of Sacred Theology, who in the name of their General Chapter requested it as something just and due. We had read most studiously the divine writings of this Saint, by which, after We were permitted to understand something after a lifetime, we were always delighted. We had heard also from the more ancient friars of the aforesaid Religion and indeed from grave men, that even those of greater age had known that the fame of the sacredness of his life was constant; We were accustomed to know of the many and greatest miracles, nor was there on that account any doubt in our mind, but that he had triumphed in the Church Triumphant in Heaven and merited veneration upon earth.
14. But mindful, that We had entered in same Order of Minors by vow, in which, with divine grace assisting, We had progressed in both sacred letters and religious customs and had exercised the same offices of ministry, and thence to the dignity of the Cardinalate, so that We might recognize that through similar steps We had been elevated to the apex of the pontificate, with the Lord disposing, through which Saint Bonaventure himself was carried up to the unwithering glory of the Church Triumphant, lest in this We seem more ably moved by our own affection than in due devotion, We applied that diligence and gravity, which the magnitude of the matter demanded. For We committed to three of Our venerable brothers, the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, to order an inquiry into the truth of the miracles. And since one of these, with the process begun, as it pleased God, had passed from this life, We suggested another Cardinal in the place of the defunct, for whom when he was already deceased, We substituted another.
15. Nor content with this, when the process itself had already nearly been completed, and those who had been delegated had reported most faithfully; We however, to whom it did not seem that in proceeding such solemnity, as is required, was observed, ordered it to be begun anew.
16. At last, when it had been thoroughly proven from more abundant reporting and the faith of more worthy witnesses concerning this undertaking, that many and great miracles were worked by God through this Saint, which in the sight of the multitude had been determined, We, lest We seem to resist the Holy Spirit, who through the mouth of the Prophet commands that God be praised in His Saints, in a secret consistory of Ours, it having considered the case of this matter, had the votes of Our venerable brothers, the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, concerning a canonization of this kind, examined. And since one and the same had been the opinion of all, namely that he should be registered among the number of the Saints:
17. We thereupon held a public consitory, in which, with a great multitude of bystanders, We publicly proclaimed a triduum of prayers and fasting, so that God Omnipotent might deign to manifest to us what would be the best course of action in this matter, nor suffer, that His Church Militant to err, who strove to conform Herself to that Triumphant.
18. Thereupon with the triduum elapsed, We commanded all who were prelates in the Roman Curia to assemble, who to a man having been questioned, what seemed must be done, agreed upon one opinion, and determined that Blessed Bonaventure must be canonized.
19. We therefore, following the command and will of God and attentive, that it be just and due, that God honor in Heaven those whom we praise with a office of veneration and glorify on earth, since He Himself is more powerfully praised and glorified in them, who is praisable and glorious throughout the ages, did establish this day to be celebrated for the canonization of the same Saint Bonaventure in the midst of the Nasilica of the Prince of Apostles in the City, in which the greatest multitude of every kind and order streamed together. There, with all remaining things legitimately transacted, the aforesaid Procurator of the Order of the Minors, standing in the middle, proclaiming the saying of the blessed John the Apostle with a clear voice, namely: “There are three, who give witness in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit” (I John 5:7), proved also, with the process concerning the aforementioned things having been held, that the very Persons of the Most Blessed Trinity had borne witness: namely the Father in the power of his miracles, the Son in the wisdom of his doctrine, and the Holy Spirit in the goodness of his life. And on that account not only in the names of all, who begged that this canonization be accomplished, but even on the part of the each member of the Trinity, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, he requested, that we deign to pronounce the same Blessed Bonaventure a Saint, urgently, more urgently, and most urgently. Confident therefore, that in this canonization God would not permit Us to err, who required that all requisite things in this of whateverkind be observed superabundantly, and did observe such, having been assured from the unanimous consent of Our same brothers, the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, and the prelates in the Roman Curia who were present, and with the mature counsel of the omnipotent God and the authority of His blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul, We determined that Bonaventure of Bagnoregio, of blessed memory, professor of sacred theology, from the bosom of the sacred Order of Minors and called from the office of the Generalate to be a Cardinal Bishop, should be a Saint and will be inscribed, added, and entered into the catalogue of God’s other Saints, and faithfully and firmly considered (to be such); and according to these present documents, We solemnly inscribe the same in the company of the holy Confessors, Pontiffs and Doctors, whom the holy Church of God venerates, and according to these present letters We do aggregate him to their number.
20. Establishing also and commanding Our venerable brothers, the Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops and the beloved sons of the same and also the Chapters of the patriarchal, metropolitan, and cathedral churces, and the professors of whatever Orders, as much of Mendicants as of non-Mendicants, not without whatever kind of ecclesiatical persons, to celebrate the feast of this same Saint Bonaventure solemnly and devotely on the second Sunday of the month of July, each year, and resolving that the divine office just as for a Confessor, Pontiff, and Doctor, as much in public as in private, as may happen, (be conducted):
21. To our truly beloved sons, the friars of the aforesaid Order of Minors, in so far as in that manner in which the said members of the Order are accustomed to celebrate the feasts and octaves of the other Saints, We concede the faculty to celebrate an office of this kind as a feast of double class and with an octave.
22. In addition, We mercifully in the Lord relax and bestow with that same authority to all who are truly penitent and have confessed, who in the same Sunday would devoutely visit the church, in which his holy body rests, yearly seven years and as many forty-days; to those truly, who at other times on any Sunday, one hundred days; to those moreover, who are present for the divine offices at churches of the Friars Minor, wherever constituted, as much as on the very day of the feast, as during the octave, those similar indulgences and remissions of sins, which the Roman Pontiffs have conceded for each of the feasts of the Saints of the same Order, from the Apostolic indults commonly promulgated, concering the enjoined penances.
23. Considering besides, that there was undertaken by this very Saint Bonanventure so great a measure of growth in science, holiness of life and in the dignity of the Episcopacy and the Cardinalate of the Holy Roman Church, and how great a familiarity and spiritual companionship the same Saint observed in this life with blessed Thomas of Aquino, as his contemporary, fellow student and teacher, that fraternal charity joined together in this age them, whom We believe have attained the same rewards in Heaven, the present Church venerates with equal honor, We concede, receiving the aforesaid feast among the feasts of the Sacred Apostolic Palace and ennumerating, the same indulgence in the aforesaid feast in the Church of the Holy Apostles in the City, which is had in the feast of the Saint Thomas of Aquino himself in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the City, commonly named (sopra) Minerva; and likewise We determine, that the Friars Minor in the dear University of Paris with the same privileges can and ought to enjoy and rejoice on account of the merits of the same St. Bonaventure, with which from apostolic indults the Friar Preachers, who in the same University are accustomed to posses and rejoice in, and do rejoice, by the insght and grace of the same St. Thomas, or in whatsoever manner they might be able to either posses or rejoice in the future.
24. Wherefore We require and warn each and every person constituted in dignity, in so far as Our present letters, being solemnly published, to exhort them by all the clergy and people of their cities, dioceses and parishes, that God Himself, from whom all good things proceed, be beseeched humbly, that having been entreated by the prayers and merits of the same holy Doctor and Confessor, Bonaventure, He might guard the Church Militant, the Apostolic Faith and all the faithful of Christ from the incursions of the pagans and other infidels and heretics and always protect and defend Her from all dangers; and may He grant that peace which the world cannot give Us, with the dread of every enemy having been endured, with firm tranquility; and that after the military service of this life and after having layed down the ministry of the pastoral office, one with the flock He has entrusted to Us, We may yet merit to arrive at sempiternal joys.
25. Finally, since it might be difficult that the present, original letters be communicated as news to everyone, We desire and determine, that to those transcripts of these documents, marked however with the seal of the Minister General of the aforesaid Order and duly signed by the hands of two public notaries, there be exhibited an indoubtable faith in all things and through all things, and in those placese wherever it be posted, even if the original letters of this kind might be also exhibited and displayed.
To entirely no man therefore be it licit to infringe this page of Our constitution, inscription, aggregation, statute, command, concession, relaxation, grant, reception, ennumeration, admonition or will, or by rash daring to contravene it. If however anyone might presume to attempt this, let him know that he will incurr the indignation of the omnipotent God and of His Apostles, Peter and Paul.
Given at Rome at St. Peter’s, in the year of the Lord’s Incarnation, one thousand four hundred and eight-two, on the eighteenth of the Calends of May in the eleventh year of Our pontificate.
(https://www.papalencyclicals.net/sixtus04/superna-caelestis.htm)
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