BONAVENTURA d'Amiens. — Franciscan missionary and martyr in Languedoc. Born into the Lieurin family, he entered the habit of the Reformed Franciscans in Rome. In 1624, favored by Urban VIII and by Louis XIII—then engaged in conflict with the factions and Calvinists—he went to Languedoc to uphold the faith of his countrymen. In 1626, Propaganda received news that he had converted the head of Villafort along with the entire town and other large villages. The following year, the Pope granted him extraordinary privileges and recommended his mission to the dukes of Montmorency, Vandator, and Portez, as well as to the bishops of Aquitaine. His successes continued in 1628 and 1629. In repeated letters to Propaganda, he insisted on returning to Rome for health reasons; however, on June 6, 1629, the Duke of Montmorency notified Propaganda that the father had “died as a martyr” on Ascension Day, May 24. The Acts of Propaganda specify that he was killed by heretics at Privas while hearing the confessions of soldiers.
He wrote: *Récit véritable de la conversion générale des hérétiques des villes et villages de St-Paragoire, Pleis-san, Puoget, Vindemian, Cornousec, Cornonterrail, Pouz-zan et Barlieruc à la foy catholique apostolique et romaine, fait et dressé par le p. B. d'A., etc.* (Avignon 1629).