15 July - St Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor

Born Giovanni di Fidanza, this young saint was once extremely sick due to a stomach ailment. Bonaventure later became a Franciscan priest at the age of 22. He believed in living simply and doing everything to the best of his ability. At that time, the Franciscan order was in danger of being split into two. To unite them, Bonaventure wrote a set of guidelines for the order. Bonaventure was thus also known as the Second Founder of the Francsicans. St Bonaventure is also the patron saint of bowel disorders.