Original scientific paper

The Passion and the Cross of Jesus Christ in Writings of Francis of Assisi and of Selected Franciscan Theologians, Preachers, and Mystics

Daniel Patafta ; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The love of Francis of Assisi for Jesus Christ has been manifested in two points: the Eucharist and the Passion. The mystery of Passion became dominant in Francis´ life. His journey of sainthood from St. Damian to La Verna speaks of a journey marked by the Passion and the Cross. From that time Christ´s Passion became the dominant starting point of Franciscan theology, mysticism, and preaching. The starting point of this article is Francis´ vision of the crucified Christ in his autographs and as it has been captured by his biographers. On the basis of these sources the article offers an insight into Francis´ reflection on, piety towards, and personal experience of Christ´s Passion and Cross. After reviewing this foundation laid by Francis the article continues with St. Bonaventure´s theological reflection and mystical experience of Christ´s Passion and Cross, since St. Bonaventure has been called »the theologian of the Passion«. Bonaventure´s teaching is the beginning of the systematic theological reflection on Christ´s Passion at the dawn of Franciscan theological and philosophical school of the 13th century. The analysis of Bonaventure´s teaching on the Cross focuses on two its two important aspects that summarise his theological approach to the Passion and the Cross and become the basis of Franciscan spirituality, especially mysticism, and preaching in the later centuries. The Franciscan preaching has been marked by the name of St. Bernardine of Siena and the names of his disciples, St. John Capistran and Bl. Jacob of Marche, by mysticism of names of Bl. Angela of Foligno and St. VeronicaGiuliani, and by piety of St. Peter of Alcantara and St. Leonard of Port Maurice. This article summarises reflections and practice of the most important representatives of the Franciscan movement, who were inspired by Francis´ experience of the Passion and the Cross and transmitted that piety in the field of theology, preaching, and mysticism. The Cross and the Passion are not only characteristic for the Franciscan movement throughout centuries, but are also central motives in the discourse on the economy of salvation. This topic was also dominant in writings of other theologians of the 12th and the 13th century, who considered the Passion and the Cross to be »via regia Sanctae Crucis«. While considering the rapid development of the Franciscan movement in the13th century, the emergence of its philosophical and theological school and the school ofspirituality, the article tries to provide a concise overview of the general characteristicsof the most important Franciscan representatives of theology, mysticism, and preaching from the 13th century until the end of the 18th century. The overview emphasises that the Cross is the key, door, way, and authenticity of the truth of Divine Love for Franciscan theologians, preachers, and mystics.

Keywords

Passion; Cross; Francis of Assisi; St. Bonaventure; Franciscan theology; mysticism; preaching

Hrčak ID:

200753

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/200753

Publication date:

29.5.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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