Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts Christian Apologetics with Dr. R. R. Reno, PhD CA-6 – “The Journey of the Mind into God” St. Bonaventure – Christian Apologetics with Dr. R. R. Reno Discerning Hearts Podcast
Jul 15, 2019
R. R. Reno, a professor of theology and editor at First Things, shares profound insights into St. Bonaventure's spiritual journey. He discusses the three phases of seeing God: through the world, the self, and ultimately, God Himself. Reno emphasizes the interplay of faith and reason, advocating for a dynamic understanding of divine contemplation. He intriguingly connects sensory experiences with memory retention, suggesting that our intellectual pursuits can deepen spiritual awareness and lead to a richer relationship with the divine.
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Bonaventure's Visual Contemplative Map
- St. Bonaventure provides a contemplative, visual map rather than clear-cut directions like St. Thomas Aquinas. - His method appeals to those who grasp concepts better through imagery than analytic instructions.
Mental Mapping for Memory
- St. Bonaventure uses the church's architecture (nave, choir, altar) as a mnemonic for the soul's journey to God. - This mental map aids memory by associating knowledge with physical locations familiar to monks.
Science as Contemplative Prayer
- The natural world reveals God through its intelligible order, countability, and evaluative qualities. - Scientific study, approached contemplatively, becomes a form of prayer reflecting divine reality.
3. Seeing God in and through God Himself (looking upward) (stage 5 & 6) (The Altar)