St. Bonaventure was a close friend of St. Thomas Aquinas. Like his holy friend, he was also a learned priest. In fact, he gave to the Catholic Church so many helpful insights about our faith that he is known as one of the “Doctors of the Church.”

One day, he had a conversation with a lay-brother, whose name was Giles. Now, Giles didn’t have very much education. Compared to St. Bonaventure, who had spent years learning and teaching, Brother Giles knew very little. But, he had a good disposition, and did whatever job he was given as well as he could. Brother Giles also wanted to do any task God might plan for him, and so every day he tried to act kindly and with virtue.

While they were talking, Giles remarked to St. Bonaventure: “My reverend Father, how happy you must be, and all you other great and learned theologians! You can love God so much more easily than we poor ignorant laybrothers can, and therefore you can save your souls all the more easily.

With a smile, St. Bonaventure replied: “Brother Giles, you are quite wrong; with God’s grace everyone can love God as much as he likes.”

“What!?” exclaimed the lay-brother, “Can ignorant people like me, and those who cannot read nor write, love God just as much as great scholars like yourself?”

“Yes, most certainly,” said the Saint; “any poor old woman can love God just as much as the most learned theologian.”

When Brother Giles heard these words, he was thrilled. Imagine that! In God’s eyes, Giles didn’t need to be learned or successful in order to love Him. Simply by loving God and doing his best for Him, Brother Giles could make God just as happy as the brilliant St. Bonaventure standing next to him!

Brother Giles was so excited he ran into the garden and opened the gate that led outside the monastery. In his delight, Brother Giles began to shout out to the world:

“Come here, all you poor people; come here, all you old women who can neither read nor write, and I will tell you a most wonderful thing. If you like, you can love God as much as the greatest theologian, even as much as our reverend Father Bonaventure himself.”

This goodhearted lay-brother is quite right. Any of us can make God very happy, right now, on this very day. We don’t need to be smart, beautiful, or famous to do that. All we need is a loving heart and a desire to give God that love. “Love the Lord your God with your whole heart, soul, and mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.” And everyone can do it! Then, we will know what is most important. We will be doing the best thing we could ever do in our life. And we will be truly beautiful children of God.