This paper compares and contrasts the views of St. Augustine and St. Francis (in St. Bonaventure) concerning morality, war, and property.
St. Augustine (354-430) was born in Roman North Africa of a and a pagan father. He received his initial schooling mainly in Latin literature, and he earned his living as a teacher in Carthage, Rome, and Milan. He joined the Manichaeans for several years, but was eventually disillusioned by the movement. After a period of skepticism, he was converted to Christianity by St. Ambrose and established a monastic community. In 391, he was ordained a priest at Hippo, becoming bishop there in 395.
Augustine believed in the importance of a single, unified Christian Church. He developed a theory of sin, grace, and predestination that became basic to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. His writings include The Confessions and The City of God.
St. Bonaventure (1221-1274) was born at Bagnorea in Tuscany. He is considered to be the greatest of all the Franciscans and was called the Seraphic Doctor. As a Franciscan, he placed considerable emphasis on faith and less on reason. His writings include A Life of St. Francis of Assisi and The Soul's Journey into God. The latter holds that the direct contemplation of God
is the objective of all the arts and sciences. As a person of learning, however, Bonaventure encouraged the development of studies within the Franciscan Order. Although St. Francis may have stressed the importance of faith, still the clergy of the Church must do scholarly research in theology in order to be efficient as priests.
Bonaventure's concept of the purpose and value of study, determined as much by his own talents and spiritual direction under Alexander of Hales and his membership in the Franciscan Order, most certainly placed him in the Augustinian tradition.
Augustine's thought was focused around God and the soul's relation to God.
Bonaventure is con...