Bonaventure

In his own words on Titus

• Titus 1:9

  There are three orders: the priestly, corresponding to the Thrones; the episcopal, corresponding to the Cherubim; and the patriarchal, corresponding to the Seraphim--not properly speaking on account of the imposition of some new character, since there is no level above the priesthood, but because of eminence and power. It is fitting that the bishop "be holding fast the faithful word." But the Pope must be the most perfect of them all. And if the interior ordination corresponded to the exterior, that would be the best.

  Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 22

• Titus 1:16

  We take up the name of God in vain through frustration of a Sacrament received; and according to this there is a threefold degree of taking the name of God in vain. The first is when someone does not believe in the Sacrament, like a heretic. Second, when one believes but does not dispose himself for the Sacrament, like a usurer. Third, when someone does not preserve the grace received in the Sacrament, like one who afterward sins. Hear, you who are marked with the Christian name: the character is then imprinted upon you through the power of the name of God; and when you afterward sin, you empty out the power of the Sacrament. Of such persons the Apostle says to Titus: "They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him."

  Collationes de Decem Praeceptis, Collation 3

• Titus 2:11

  The second fruit of grace is the fullness of justice, which consists in this, that a man be just in himself and with respect to God and with respect to his neighbor, namely that a man avoid evil and work good. And how? The Apostle says to Titus: "The grace of God our Savior has appeared to all men, instructing us, that denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, justly, and piously in this world, awaiting the blessed hope and the coming of the glory of the great God." This is the grace which expels all evils and bestows all goods: therefore in grace is the fullness of justice.

  Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 1

• Titus 2:12

  The second fruit of grace is the fullness of justice, which consists in this, that a man be just in himself and with respect to God and with respect to his neighbor, namely that a man avoid evil and work good. And how? The Apostle says to Titus: "The grace of God our Savior has appeared to all men, instructing us, that denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, justly, and piously in this world, awaiting the blessed hope and the coming of the glory of the great God." This is the grace which expels all evils and bestows all goods: therefore in grace is the fullness of justice.

  Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 1

• Titus 2:12

  The third original influence of the gift of piety is from holy mother Church, sanctified through the Holy Spirit, who possesses the pledge of the Holy Spirit. Holy mother Church has enjoined piety upon all. Those who are born from one father and one mother love one another more than those who are born from one father alone, or from one mother alone. The Holy Spirit makes us children of one father and one mother and members of one body. The Apostle: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, has appeared to all men, instructing us that, denying impiety and worldly desires, we should live soberly and justly and piously in this world." See whether your piety is that of brother toward brother, and of a brother from the same womb toward a brother from the same womb! Who is our father? Certainly God. Who is our mother? It is the Church, who from her womb bore us through the Holy Spirit and will bring us forth when we shall be presented in eternal light. Do you not see that just as one member suffers with another member, so also we ought to suffer with one another? We are all members of one body, we are nourished with one food, we are brought forth from the same womb, we tend toward the same inheritance: and our inheritance will be magnified the more numerous we shall be, not diminished. We are one body; we ought to be piously disposed toward one another. Come to the father, the father receives you, or the mother; if holy mother Church stands by, even flagitious sinners will be compelled to return. We ought therefore to suffer with one another.

  Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 3

• Titus 2:12

  And the Apostle demonstrates these three things in his Epistle to Titus: We may live temperately and justly and piously in this world. Temperately, that is, in a holy manner; piously, which stands [in the Apostle's text]; justly, that is, truly. God, therefore, gives the laws, not by will, but by the greatest reason.

  Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 21

• Titus 3:5

  Grace arises in us through the Word inspired. However much God sent His Son into the flesh, unless you believe Him crucified, you will not have grace. Whence the Apostle to Titus: "Not by works of justice which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the laver of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out abundantly upon us through Jesus Christ, our Savior." It is the Holy Spirit who is the giver of graces and the love proceeding from the Father and the Son. Whatever therefore the Father does and the Son suffers, without the Holy Spirit it is nothing. For He Himself joins us to the Father and the Son.

  Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 1

• Titus 3:6

  Grace arises in us through the Word inspired. However much God sent His Son into the flesh, unless you believe Him crucified, you will not have grace. Whence the Apostle to Titus: "Not by works of justice which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the laver of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out abundantly upon us through Jesus Christ, our Savior." It is the Holy Spirit who is the giver of graces and the love proceeding from the Father and the Son. Whatever therefore the Father does and the Son suffers, without the Holy Spirit it is nothing. For He Himself joins us to the Father and the Son.

  Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 1

• Titus 3:7

  From Christ is the fruit of grace. This fruit of grace is fourfold: it consists in steadying the soul through faith, blessing it through divine love, lifting it up through hope, curbing it through divine fear. The third is mentioned in the Epistle to Titus: "Justified by His grace, we are heirs in the hope of life everlasting."

  Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 18