Seeing himself as "unequal to so great a task", St. Bonaventure nevertheless endeavored to introduce his readers to the practice of "the most beneficial of all devout exercises, and that which is most capable of leading [them] to the summit of Christian perfection": the contemplation of the life of Our Lord. By "frequent and habitual meditations on that divine subject" even "very illiterate persons" have been raised to such "familiarity, confidence, and love of him" that they have become "profoundly versed in the most sublime mysteries of God". What better way "to arm our breast against the flattering, yet fleeting vanities of the world; to render us steady amidst tribulations and adversities; and finally, to preserve us from vice, and facilitate the possession of every virtue"? He addresses his reader in "plain and unpolished" language, "that you may the more easily comprehend the matter here treated, and study rather to improve your mind and heart than flatter your ears." "I hope still more, that if you are but diligent in the exercise of this devout study, that the Lord, whose life is here treated of, will become your master and instructor."
- Summary by ekortright
Chapters
1 St. Bonaventure's Preface 12 min 2 Chapter I. The Angels intercede for Man's redemption 14 min 3 Chapter II. The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and her seven petitions to God 10 min 4 Chapter III. The Incarnation of Christ, and the angelical salutation of the Blessed Virgin 18 min 5 Chapter IV. Our blessed Lady visits her cousin St. Elizabeth, in whose house the Magnificat and Benedictus were composed 10 min 6 Chapter V. St. Joseph thinks of dismissing the Blessed Virgin, and God suffers his beloved to be afflicted 9 min 7 Chapter VI. The Nativity of Jesus Christ 25 min 8 Chapter VII. The Circumcision of our Lord Jesus Christ 11 min 9 Chapter VIII. The Epiphany, or manifestation of our Lord Jesus 16 min 10 Chapter IX. The Blessed Virgin remains at the crib at Bethlehem, till the full term of forty days is expired 4 min 11 Chapter X. The Purification of our blessed Lady, or Candlemas-day 10 min 12 Chapter XI. Christ's flight into Egypt 27 min 13 Chapter XII. Our Lord's return from Egypt 12 min 14 Chapter XIII. Our Lord remains at Jerusalem 12 min 15 Chapter XIV. Our Lord's life from his twelfth to his thirtieth year 22 min 16 Chapter XV. The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ 34 min 17 Chapter XVI. The fast and temptation of Christ; his return to his mother; the four means to attain to a perfect purity of heart; the great advantages of prayer; the resistance to be made to gluttony; why, and for whom God works his miracles 21 min 18 Chapter XVII. Christ opens the book in the synagogue 6 min 19 Chapter XVIII. He calls his disciples 4 min 20 Chapter XIX. The conversion of water into wine at the marriage-feast 14 min 21 Chapter XX. The sermon of our Lord on the mount, which he begins by poverty 9 min 22 Chapter XXI. The servant of the centurion and the son of the prince cured 2 min 23 Chapter XXII. The paralytic brought in to our Lord by the house-top and cured 3 min 24 Chapter XXIII. Our Lord cures Simon's mother-in-law 2 min 25 Chapter XXIV. Our Lord sleeps in the boat 2 min 26 Chapter XXV. The widow's son raised by our Lord 1 min 27 Chapter XXVI. Our Lord raises a girl from the dead, and cures Martha 4 min 28 Chapter XXVII. The conversion of Magdalen, and other things 12 min 29 Chapter XXVIII. John sends his disciples to Jesus 3 min 30 Chapter XXIX. The death of St. John the Baptist 9 min 31 Chapter XXX. The conference our Lord had with the Samaritan woman, as he sat, being faint and wearied, by the side of the well to rest himself 6 min 32 Chapter XXXI. The disciples of our Lord pluck ears of corn and eat them, through hunger, on the Sabbath 12 min 33 Chapter XXXII. The Jews having driven our Lord Jesus out of the city to the top of a steep mountain, endeavor to throw him down thence 2 min 34 Chapter XXXIII. The man with a withered hand cured by our Lord Jesus 3 min 35 Chapter XXXIV. The multiplication of the loaves, and how our Lord provides for those who truly love him 7 min 36 Chapter XXXV. Our Lord's flight when they would have made him king; and against worldly honors in general 23 min 37 Chapter XXXVI. Our Lord prays on the mount; and descending walks on the waters; some reflections on prayer 33 min 38 Chapter XXXVII. Christ relieves the daughter of the woman of Canaan who was possessed with the devil; our guardian angels faithfully assist us 7 min 39 Chapter XXXVIII. The Pharisees and others scandalized at the words of our Lord 3 min 40 Chapter XXXIX. The reward promised by our Lord to those who forsake all for him 7 min 41 Chapter XL. Our Lord Jesus asks his disciples what the Jews say of him 2 min 42 Chapter XLI. The glorious transfiguration of our Lord Jesus on Mount Tabor 5 min 43 Chapter XLII. Our Lord casts the buyers and sellers out of the temple 3 min 44 Chapter XLIII. The sick man who was healed at the water in Jerusalem, called Probatica Piscina 8 min 45 Chapter XLIV. Our Lord Jesus received by the two sisters, Mary and Martha; and of the two sorts of lives signified thereby 6 min 46 Chapter XLV. Our Lord warns the Jews that the church shall devolve on the Gentiles, in the parable of the husbandmen who killed the son of their Lord 3 min 47 Chapter XLVI. The Jews seek to ensnare our Lord by his own words 2 min 48 Chapter XLVII. The blind man restored to sight at Jericho; etc 5 min 49 Chapter XLVIII. Our Lord goes into the house of Zacheus 3 min 50 Chapter XLIX. Christ gives sight to the man born blind 3 min 51 Chapter L. Our Lord retreats from the temple to hide himself, when the Jews would have stoned him 2 min 52 Chapter LI. The Jews seek a second time to stone him 3 min 53 Chapter LII. The raising of Lazarus 6 min 54 Chapter LIII. Christ curses the fig-tree 2 min 55 Chapter LIV. The woman detected in adultery 3 min 56 Chapter LV. The conspiracy of the Jews against Christ, and his flight into the city of Ephraim 3 min 57 Chapter LVI. Our Lord's return to Bethania, where Mary Magdalen anoints his feet 6 min 58 Chapter LVII. Our Lord Jesus comes to Jerusalem en Palm Sunday riding on an ass 8 min 59 Chapter LVIII. What our Lord Jesus did from Palm Sunday to the following Thursday 7 min 60 Chapter LIX. Our Lord's supper the night before his passion, and circumstances relating to it 24 min 61 Chapter LX. The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and his prayer in the garden 15 min 62 Chapter LXI. Our Lord Jesus betrayed by Judas 9 min 63 Chapter LXII. Our blessed Lord is carried before Pilate, scourged at the pillar, and crowned with thorns 11 min 64 Chapter LXIII. Our Lord is condemned to suffer a cruel death on the cross, and compelled to carry the same to Mount Calvary 10 min 65 Chapter LXIV. Our Lord Jesus Christ is nailed to the cross 6 min 66 Chapter LXV. The words which our Lord spoke while hanging upon the cross: he yields up his spirit 7 min 67 Chapter LXVI. The opening of our blessed Saviour's side with a spear 7 min 68 Chapter LXVII. The descent of our Lord from the cross 5 min 69 Chapter LXVIII. The embalming and burial of our Lord's body 10 min 70 Chapter LXIX. Our blessed Lady's departure from the sepulchre, and return to Mount Sion 8 min 71 Chapter LXX. A meditation on our blessed Lady's conversation with her devout companions 8 min 72 Chapter LXXI. Our Lord Jesus descends into the Limbo of the Fathers 28 min 73 Chapter LXXII. The glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus, and his appearance first to his mother 5 min 74 Chapter LXXIII. The coming of the three Marys to the sepulchre, etc 2 min 75 Chapter LXXIV. Our Lord's appearance to the holy women 6 min 76 Chapter LXXV. Our Lord's appearance to Joseph, to James the less, and to Peter 4 min 77 Chapter LXXVI. Christ returns to the holy Fathers after his resurrection 3 min 78 Chapter LXXVII. Christ appears to the two disciples going to Emmaus 3 min 79 Chapter LXXVIII. Our Lord appears to the disciples who were shut up on the day of the resurrection 4 min 80 Chapter LXXIX. Our Lord appears to the disciples on the octave of Easter, when St. Thomas was with them 5 min 81 Chapter LXXX. Our Lord appears to his disciples in Galilee 2 min 82 Chapter LXXXI. He appears to them again near the sea of Tiberias 5 min 83 Chapter LXXXII. Our Lord appears to more than five hundred disciples together; some remarks relating to his apparitions in general 4 min 84 Chapter LXXXIII. The glorious ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 25 min 85 Chapter LXXXIV. The coming of the Holy Ghost 5 min 86 Appendix. Rhythmical Prayer to the Sacred Members of Jesus hanging upon the Cross. By St. Bernard 43 min
