Ratio finiendi: The Finality of the Holy Spirit in the Theology of St. Bonaventure

Abstract

This study focuses on the theology of St. Bonaventure († 1274). It asks: How does the Holy Spirit fit into the shape and structure of Bonaventure’s systematic theology? In answering this question, this study thereby aims to explicate Bonaventure’s theology of the Holy Spirit. More specifically, the goal is to draw attention to and elucidate the finality of the Holy Spirit in Bonaventure’s theology. To do this, the project is divided into two parts. Part One focuses on the finality of the Holy Spirit in the inner life of the Holy Trinity. Part Two turns to the economy, and focuses on the finality of the Holy Spirit in terms of creation/history and of the mission of Christ. This structure allows the author to present not only Bonaventure’s theology of the Holy Spirit, but to develop a new synthesis of his theological system—from a pneumatological perspective. Ultimately, the project shows that Bonaventure not only has a refined theology of the Holy Spirit, but that the Holy Spirit is the culmination of the shape of his theological system as a whole.