John Bona

John Bona (1609-1674), Italian cardinal and author, was born at Mondovi in Piedmont, on October 10 1609. In 1624 he joined the Congregation of Feuillants and was successively elected prior of Asti, abbot of Mondovi and general of his order. He was created cardinal in 1669 by Clement IX, and during the conclave, which followed that pope's death, was regarded as a possible candidate for the papacy. He died on October 27 1674.

Bona's writings are mainly concerned with liturgical and devotional subjects. Of the numerous editions of his works, the best are those of "Paris" (1677), "Turin" (1747) and "Antwerp" (1777). Stores of interesting rubrical information, interspersed with verses and prayers, are to be found in the "De Libris Liturgicis" and the "Divina Psalmodia"; recent advances in liturgical studies, however, have somewhat lessened their value. The "De Discretione Spirituum" treats of certain higher phases of mysticism; the "Via Compendii ad Deum" was well translated in 1876 by Henry Collins, 0. Cist., under the title of "An Easy Way to God". Sir Roger L'Estrange's translation ("The Guide to Heaven", 1680) of the "Manuductio ad Coelum" was reprinted in 1898, and a new edition of the "Principia Vitae Christianae", ed. by D. O'Connor, appeared in 1906. The devotional treatise "De Sacrificio Missae" is the classical work in its field (new edition by Ildephonsus Cummins, 1903).

The chief source for the life of Bona is the biography by the Cistercian abbot Bertolotti (Asti, 1677).

References

*1911