On the 10th of December, it will be 50 years since Father Bonaventure Lüthen, the first and most faithful son of our saintly Founder died in the Motherhouse at Rome in 1961. The anguished cry of the Servant of God as he knelt beside the body was: "The Lord has given him to us, the Lord has taken him away, blessed be the name of the Lord." Thus Father Jordan said farewell to Father Bonaventure Lüthen whom he had met for the first time 30 years before, guided by Divine Providence, and whom he was able to win over and inspire for his great plans.

Father Lüthen was then the editor of the well known magazine for priests, "Ambrosius", and soon in its pages were to appear the tentative statutes of the new Society Father Jordan was founding. After weighing all the pros and cons he determined to join the Society and wrote an inspiring pamphlet about it. In it he says: "This new Society is so obviously the work of the Holy Spirit that we not only consider it a privilege to advertise its merits but actually an obligation." At Father Jordan's instigation he then began publishing the "Missionary". Later, after he had joined Father Jordan at St. Brigid's in Rome, and had acquired a small print shop, he also published "II Monitore Romano" and "L'Amico dei Fanciulli", this latter for children.
On December8th,1881 he joined the Founder permanently and during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass received Holy Communion from his hands, thus, as it were, putting a seal upon his pledge of fidelity. He wrote: "May God help me lest I be counted among those who lay their hands upon the plough and then look back"; but through thick and thin Father Lüthen remained steadfast. He kept the, promise made at st. Brigid's to the very end. He has passed into history as one of the very best men that have ever attached themselves to the cause of Father Jordan.
Even during his student days Father Lüthen was conspicuous for his extraordinary ability, his dedication to duty, and his exemplary conduct. Already as a young priest all who knew him considered him a priest according to the heart of God. He was soon the favourite of all, and all considered him a saintly man. One of his teachers (a layman) who had had much influence on the formation of his character, had this to say of him: "He lived a life in accord with the highest religious ideals; 'we must become saints', he said to me. He strove with uncommon energy to attain his ideals, to perfect himself in his high vocation. He always prepared himself for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with a long meditation, most often in church. After Mass he devoted a good half hour to his thanksgiving and to meditation. He was not interested in social companionships. For recreation he took daily walks while occupying himself in prayer and the composition of his literary works. Often he used this opportunity to visit the sick or the poor. To the latter he handed out all he could spare, and more. He devoted much time to apprenticed workers in need, and not one left unaided or without a kind word of encouragement or spiritual advice." The successor of Father Lüthen as editor of the "Ambrosius" remarked: "This magazine will never be the same again. His editorials glowed with the fire of his holy ideals, and strove to kindle in the priestly hearts of his readers the very sentiments and yearnings of the Sacred Heart of Jesus."

While Father Jordan was trying to build his Society in Rome, Father Lüthen was doing his part in ceremony, by the spoken and printed word, and even more by his good example. On October 17th, 1883 he pronounced his perpetual vows in the hands of Father Jordan and received the religious name of Bonaventure. Besides his literary work the office of Novice Master was entrusted to ' him which office he filled with distinction for more than ten years. In addition he was a much sought-after confessor and spiritual director in the Motherhouse, and above all, through all the formative years the right hand of the Founder as General Consulter. His motto was: “Fortiter in re, suaviter in modo.” His spirit of mildness, meekness, humility and poverty was a source of admiration and edification to all. In the observance of the rules he was second to none. His two biographers, Father Rupert Stadelmaier and Father Willibrord Menke relate many an inspiring episode of how he strove to observe the constitutions of the Society. When our Divine Saviour summoned his faithful servant to his eternal reward at the age of 65 no one doubted but that a saint had been taken from our midst. We hope and pray that also this our confrere, and most faithful son of the Founder will attain the honours of the altar. To us all, even now, he is a model and helper. On the 50th anniversary of his death let us renew our resolve to follow in his footsteps and to heed his cry: "Salvatores estote"; and, "If we do not take ourselves seriously we will come to nothing."

Today, that part of the Founder's Chapel where the altar stands on whim he was wont to say Mass, was once the room of Father Bonaventure where he lived and died. There one can ' see the memorial tablet with the following inscription: This room / Father Bonaventure Lüthen / first son / of Our Father Founder / and for thirty years / most faithful collaborator / with the splendour of his virtues / has consecrated / and on December 10th, 1911 / at 9.00 o'clock, P. M. / full of merit / here / rendered his soul to God / at the age of 65. The memory of him shall not depart away, and his name shall be in request from generation to generation. (Eccli. 39, 13.)

Text from volume VII of the Analles, Published by the Generalate. Link

If you would like to read more about Father Bonaventure Lüthen, click here to read a short biography on him by Father Winfreid Herbst SDS.