Bonaventure

In his own words on 2 Maccabees

• 2 Maccabees 3:1

  It is said in the book of Maccabees: "When the holy city was inhabited in peace, and the laws were very well kept because of the piety of Onias and the souls that held evil in hatred: it came to pass that kings and pontiffs held the place in reverence and honored it with many gifts." Afterwards Menelaus and his men entered the temple, and Antiochus contaminated the temple. I believe that the impediment was that the Holy Spirit was not among the people, because the impediment was in the pastor. The oil of piety ought to be especially in the hearts of pontiffs. Whence pontiffs are anointed on the head, and once anointed, they ought afterwards to purify all of the people. Blessed Gregory was noble and wealthy: he founded and endowed seven monasteries, and in the seventh in the city of Rome he became a monk, afterwards a cardinal, and finally Pope. Blessed Gregory was accustomed, when he was Pope, to have twelve poor persons who ate before him. One day there was among those twelve one who sometimes appeared as a young man, sometimes with venerable white hair. After the meal Blessed Gregory arose and led him into his chamber and asked who he was. He answered: I am that shipwrecked man to whom you showed mercy near the seaport. I said that my ship had been imperiled, and I asked alms from you, by which I might sustain myself. You had fifty gold coins given to me, and afterwards all the silver dishes that were in your house: and then I knew that the eternal God had disposed you for this honor, and that by dispensation you came to this dignity, so that you might give much for God. And Blessed Gregory said: who are you? He answered: I am His Angel. And Blessed Gregory was terrified, because he saw an Angel: and thus he was consoled, because works of piety are so pleasing to God. Martin and Nicholas, because they were men of mercy, therefore from their tombs oil flows.

  Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 3

• 2 Maccabees 6:28

  The gift of fortitude is given for enduring worldly tribulations. Whence it is said in the book of Maccabees that Eleazar, when he departed from life, leaving behind an example of fortitude for the young and the old, said: "Gladly for love of you do I suffer these things." He could have been freed if he had pretended to have eaten pork; but he refused, nay rather he chose to die and to leave behind an example of fortitude for others.

  Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 5

• 2 Maccabees 6:30

  The third grief is that of zeal for the divine honor. Whence in the book of Maccabees: "Thou, O Lord, who hast knowledge, knowest that whereas I might be delivered from death, I endure hard pains of body; but according to the soul, on account of thy fear, I willingly suffer these things." Eleazar spoke these words when he preferred to die rather than to make a pretense of eating swine's flesh. Philosophy does not teach this, that for the sake of a conclusion I should expose myself to death.

  Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 4

• 2 Maccabees 6:30

  The gift of fortitude is given for enduring worldly tribulations. Whence it is said in the book of Maccabees that Eleazar, when he departed from life, leaving behind an example of fortitude for the young and the old, said: "Gladly for love of you do I suffer these things." He could have been freed if he had pretended to have eaten pork; but he refused, nay rather he chose to die and to leave behind an example of fortitude for others.

  Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 5

• 2 Maccabees 7:28

  It is certain that God created all things. And therefore that good woman said to her son in the book of Maccabees that he should look upon all things, "because God created them from nothing." For God is the cause of all things in whole; therefore he produces them not from himself, not from something else, because nothing else exists; therefore from nothing.

  Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 8

• 2 Maccabees 12:45

  The third benefit of the gift of piety is that it makes one attain every good. Whence it is said in the book of Maccabees that Judas considered "that those who had fallen asleep with piety carried away the finest grace."

  Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 3