The Upward Pursuit of Happiness in Bonaventure’s Itinerarium mentis in Deum

Our next monthly meeting will be held on Friday, July 9th, from 3:00pm to 4:30pm. We will be discussing “The Upward Pursuit of Happiness in Bonaventure’s Itinerarium mentis in Deum” by Jonathan Bieler from the Summer 2020 (Volume 47.2) issue of Communio entitled “Happiness, Love, and Friendship”.

The following is taken from the Introduction to the issue:
“Only what exceeds our capacity can truly make us happy.” In “The Upward Pursuit of Happiness in Bonaventure’s Itinerarium mentis in Deum,” Jonathan Bieler dwells on how happiness both requires and is itself the perfect mode of self-transcendence. For Bonaventure, man’s ascent toward and into God is moved by the sacramental invitation of the cosmos, is supported by God’s presence to the soul in being and in grace, and is centered on the mediating work of Christ crucified, whose Paschal mystery also gives form to the mystic’s path. Bieler asks how the ecstatic surrender in which this ascent culminates, a rapture exemplified for St. Bonaventure by the stigmatic St. Francis, integrates sacrifice within fulfillment.

We plan to hold an outdoor hybrid meeting at the Newman Centre Guelph, weather permitting, for up to 25 participants. If weather does not permit meeting outdoors, we plan to hold two meetings of 5 people, one in the Newman Centre and one in Newman House. We also hope to arrange for dinner after the meeting.

If you hope to attend the outdoor meeting, please register by e-mailing me and let me know if you would stay for dinner.

If we aren’t able to meet outdoors, and you would like to meet indoors at Newman, please register by e-mailing me and let me know if you would stay for dinner.

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