Bonadventure -- Good Fortune in This Life and The Next

July 15 is the Feast of Saint Bonaventure, great Franciscan Doctor of the Church perhaps best known for his definitive (at the time) biography of Saint Francis of Assisi. His names mean "Good Fortune" or, we might say, "Lucky", supposedly given to him as a nickname when he, as a child in danger of dying, was healed by the prayers of Saint Francis of Assisi. Was he healed by luck or by prayer? We who trust in God know there is no such thing as luck, be it good or bad. All happens with the will or permission of God.

On the feast of Saint Bonaventure in 2014, I attended two Masses. The first, at 7 a.m., was a Mass of reception for Sister Anna Doctor into the postulancy of the Franciscan Sisters Minor. The reading prior to her reception was Thomas of Celano's account of Saint Francis relinquishing everything in this world to follow God and his giving all possessions back to his father before placing himself fully into the arms of God. Sister Anna did that very thing. What joy in such surrender!

Sister Bernadette, Mother Colette Marie, and Sister Anna of the Franciscan Sisters Minor on the day of Sister Anna's entrance into postulancy, July 15, 2014

Then, at 10:30 a.m., I attended a second Mass, this one a funeral Mass for Justin Seyfert, age 23 (close to the age of Sister Anna), who died from a tragic motorcycle accident only five days previously. Justin is the nephew of Sandy Seyfert, Minister (president) of Our Lady, Cause of Our Joy Chapter of the Confraternity of Penitents in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Justin had graduated from Ball State School of Architecture in 2014 and was active in construction trades while working toward his Master's Degree.  At his funeral the family had displayed his notebooks, blue prints, and architectural models. Justin had been an organ donor, and many of his organs were harvested and used to bring new life to others whose organs were failing. This donation of his, made by his free decision long before his accident, was part of the selfless nature of who Justin was. His friends remarked that he never left your side. His aunt said he was always smiling. A friend recalled that, when she had no date for the prom, Justin invited her to go along with him and his date--hence, he escorted two women to that special dance.

Justin's funeral was in his parish, Saint Vincent De Paul, in Fort Wayne. The huge crucifix behind the altar is made of twined vines and Christ suspended on it looks as if He is in agony but then also, with His arms uplifted, in praise. It is as if the agony of suffering is a praise of God's mercy and love, with the interwoven vines reminding us that He is the vine and we the branches--we are to offer our suffering up for others out of love.

Justin Seyfert

Father Andrew Budzinski who offered the Mass said that people who are grieving do not remember funeral homilies but they do remember who was there for them. Jesus is always there for us--He does not leave our side. He gave Himself totally to us to renew our lives. We have new life because of Jesus' death. Moreover, He is preparing a house, a dwelling place for us in heaven, and Justin, by his selfless giving, will participate in these preparations with Him Who was also a carpenter.

Justin gave of himself to others. Sister Anna will give more fully of herself to others through her life as as a religious. Justin's work will continue from eternity (do pray for his soul and may he pray for us as well) and Sister Anna will work here in this life until God calls her, too, home to Himself. In order to enter a new way of living, we must be reborn and leave the old behind. Justin left behind this world to be reborn into eternal life. Sister Anna chose to leave behind her former way of life and enter a new existence as a religious. Both were not "lucky"-- they experienced the Good Fortune of following God wherever He took them. May we do the same by giving ourselves to the world as Jesus did. If we put ourselves at His disposal, He will do it.

--Madeline Pecora Nugent,CFP