I thank the LORD and I praise him; I bless the name of the LORD. When I was young and innocent, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer I prayed for her before the temple, and I will seek her until the end, and she flourished as a grape soon ripe. My heart delighted in her, My feet kept to the level path because from earliest youth I was familiar with her. In the short time I paid heed, I met with great instruction. Since in this way I have profited, I will give my teacher grateful praise. I became resolutely devoted to her— the good I persistently strove for. My soul was tormented in seeking her, My hand opened her gate and I came to know her secrets. I directed my soul to her, and in cleanness I attained to her.
REFLECTION
“When I was young and innocent, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer I prayed for her before the temple,”
Today’s saint was blessed at a young age, and surely, she sought wisdom in prayer. Born in 1156, St. Bona of Pisa was raised by her mother, after her father left the family when she was three years old. She had many visions as a young girl, but two of them were profound visions. The first happened while praying in church, Jesus reached for her from a crucifix. In another vision, Jesus, Mary, and three other saints, surrounded by light, frightened her. As she ran away, St James the Greater followed her, and brought her back to Jesus. She developed a special devotion to St. James and at the age of ten, she became a third order Augustinian. At fourteen, she traveled to the Holy Land to locate her father, who was fighting in the Crusades. After finding her father through the help of a vision, she traveled on the Mediterranean Sea to return home. There she was captured by Muslim pirates and was wounded and imprisoned. She was freed and brought home by her fellow countrymen.
Not long after this, she received a request by St. James to make a pilgrimage to the Way of St. James. She bravely made this dangerous thousand-mile trip to Santiago from Pisa where after she became an official guide for this pilgrimage. She spent her life bringing others to Christ through St. James’ pilgrimage nine more times. She died at the age of 51 after traveling ill on her tenth trip to Santiago, Spain. She is the patron saint of travelers, pilgrims, flight attendants, guides and the city of Pisa.
May we be gifted with wisdom that St. Bona of Pisa was blessed to have and use it to bring others to Christ.
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