According to tradition, St. Francis of Assisi prayed over a boy named Giovanni when he was stricken with a childhood illness and he recovered. When he entered the Franciscan order, St. Francis changed Giovanni’s name to “Bonaventure” or “Good Fortune.” He served his order as a teacher and superior general and he served the Church as an archbishop and a cardinal. Following the example of St. Francis, he had a profound love for the wounds and the Heart of Jesus, and for the Holy Eucharist. In the Apostleship of Prayer we share this same devotion, knowing that if we enter into the Heart of Jesus we will be filled with Its love and pray and work with the Holy Father for the salvation of all souls. Our prayer is from St. Bonaventure’s “The Mystical Vine.”

When once we have come to this Heart of our Lord, of our most dear Jesus, we shall not be easily drawn away from It, since “it is good for us to abide in It.” Oh, how good and how pleasant it is to dwell in this Heart! How great a treasure, how precious a pearl is Your Heart, O good Jesus! It is a pearl found in the dug field of Your Sacred Body. Who is there who would not desire this pearl? Rather would I give up all my jewels, exchange all my thoughts and affections for it, and cast all my cares into the Heart of my good Jesus, which will nourish me without fail…. I have found the Heart of the Lord, my King, my Brother, my Friend, my good Jesus. And this Heart is mine. Having then found this Heart, therefore, which is both Yours and mine, most kind Jesus, I will pray to You as my God; place this prayer of mine among those that You will answer, and draw me totally into Your Heart. … Who will not cherish this Heart so wounded for us? Who will not love One so loving, embrace One so pure? As for us who are still dwelling in the flesh, let us do all we can to make a return of love to Him who has loved us; let us embrace Him who was pierced for us, whose hands and feet, side and Heart, were dug. And let us pray that the Heart of Christ may wound our heart, still so hard, still so impenitent, and bind it with the bonds of His love.