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St. Bonaventure (Reason and Wisdom in Medieval Christianity)

Beatrice Institute is co-sponsoring this event hosted by the Lumen Christi Institute.

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THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. REGISTRANTS WILL RECEIVE A LINK TO THE WEBINAR VIA EMAIL.

Bonaventure (d. 1274) was a pivotal figure whose complex responded effectively to the challenges of his day and inspired both theological and philosophical thought up to the present day. As a contemporary of fellow mendicant St Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventure also taught at the University of Paris and formulated an original approach to the new Aristotelian thought. Later known as the Seraphic Doctor, Bonaventure fused profound theological thought with heart-felt spirituality and set out a vision of the life and charism of the recent St Francis of Assisi to provide peace-making leadership for the new Franciscan order. Professor Kevin Hughes will introduce the complex and multifaceted thought of Bonaventure.

This lecture is part of our Spring Webinar Series on "Reason and Wisdom in Medieval Christian Thought"

What can reason discover about God? Are there other possible ways to know God? Medieval Christians undertook great rational enterprises—including the sharp logic of Abelard and the grand system of Thomas Aquinas—as well as practiced experiential and contemplative modes of knowing, as did Bernard of Clairvaux. This course will examine how different preeminent medieval Christian thinkers saw the relationship between reason and wisdom, how to arrive at them, and so how to seek the face of God.

This series is cosponsored by the Collegium Institute, the Nova Forum, the Saint Benedict Institute, the Beatrice Institute, the Harvard Catholic Center, and the Calvert House Catholic Center.