Come Hither, Ye Faithful

Author (attributed to): Bonaventura

Bonaventura, Saint and Cardinal, commonly called "Doctor Seraphicus," was born of pious and well-to-do parents at Bagnera, in Tuscany, 1221. His father's name was John, of Fidenza, and he was baptized in his father's name of John. It is said that his mother, when her boy of four years old was "sick unto death," made a vow that, if he recovered, he should become a member of the Order of St. Francis, and that, his recovery taking place immediately thereupon, she exclaimed, "O Bonaventura!" (“O what good luck") the name adopted by the son when he entered the Franciscan Order in 1242. He was sent by his Order as a student to the University of Paris probably in or about A.D. 1242, and became a Professor of Theology there in 1245. In 1256, at… Go to person page >

Translator: Edward Caswall

Edward Caswall was born in 1814, at Yately, in Hampshire, where his father was a clergyman. In 1832, he went to Brasenose College, Oxford, and in 1836, took a second-class in classics. His humorous work, "The Art of Pluck," was published in 1835; it is still selling at Oxford, having passed through many editions. In 1838, he was ordained Deacon, and in 1839, Priest. He became perpetural Curate of Stratford-sub-Castle in 1840. In 1841, he resigned his incumbency and visited Ireland. In 1847, he joined the Church of Rome. In 1850, he was admitted into the Congregation of the Oratory at Birmingham, where he has since remained. He has published several works in prose and poetry. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872… Go to person page >