She had studied the universe all her life, but had overlooked its clearest message: For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love.
Carl SaganRead
In beautiful things St. Francis saw Beauty itself, and through His vestiges imprinted on creation he followed his Beloved everywhere, making from all things a ladder by which he could climb up and embrace Him who is utterly desirable.
Interpretation
What this quote means
St. Francis found divine beauty in nature, allowing it to guide him to a deeper spiritual connection with the divine.
In this quote, Bonaventure reflects on St. Francis's profound appreciation for the beauty in the world around him. St. Francis perceives the beauty of creation not just as aesthetic pleasure but as an expression of the divine. He uses this beauty as a pathway or 'ladder' to ascend spiritually and develop a closer relationship with God, whom he sees as the ultimate source of all that is beautiful and desirable. This illustrates the idea that the natural world can inspire spiritual growth and a longing for the divine.
Themes
BeautyNatureSpiritualityFaithAscension
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of nature in spiritual practices.
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