Monday, 15th July, St Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the Church, 1221-1274. He was born in Tuscany and was the seventh Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) and he also served for a time as Bishop of Albano. He was canonised on 14th April 1482 by Pope Sixtus IV and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1588 by Pope Sixtus V. He steered the Franciscans on a moderate and intellectual course that made them the most prominent order in the Catholic Church until the establishment of the Jesuits. His theology was marked by an attempt completely to integrate faith and reason. He thought of Christ as the “one true master” who offers humans knowledge that begins as faith, is developed through rational understanding, and is perfected by mystical union with God.