SAVONAROLA @ 566: The Dominican Monk, The Preacher, the Prophet and Reformist.

Knowing the unknown figure of the modern church era. Is he a protagonist, or a deceiver? Is he a saint?

INTRODUCTION

Girolamo Savonarola started out in history to be a Hero, and Saint to some. He can be considered a protagonist in one part of the History of the Church and certainly in the History of Florence in Italy both secularly and religiously. He lived in a world of budding discoveries, and science, and giving man the necessary opportunities of his achievements in the scientific realm, a fact which the Church is not yet comfortable about during those times. In the Ecclesial world, he denounced the corruption in the presbyerium and the Papacy. While in the Civic world, he denounced despots in their tyrannical role and fought against the exploitation of the poor. He was a champion of the poor, penance and Church reform, a true historic character worth admiration.

B. HIS EARLY LIFE & THEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE

He was a native of Ferrara, son of Niccolò Savonarola and Elena Bonaccorsi. He was Highly Educated and was eloquent in Medieval Subjects which were expressed in his writings as a student. He has high regards of the Arts, Cultures, Poetry and Religion, and for this reason was greatly troubled on the corruption of the clergy. Even though he had passion for such subjects, he was sent to pursue medicine by his father, but insisted on the religious calling. He entered the Dominican Order with a Degree on Liberal Arts, and has showed great interest in Scriptures and the works of St. Thomas Aquinas. Truly a Catholic, and Thomistic by Theological orientation.

C. HIS PROPHECIES

He was known and acclaimed for his prophesies which were of civic glory by nature. “The Prophesies of Savonarola, however, produced far more impression than any of these, and the extraordinary influence of his sermons and writings is, fr the most part, due to them.” For instance, he was able to prophesy the invasion of Italy by the French King, Charles VIII. It happened in September of 1494. Another was the Prophecy about the death of Lorenzo de Medici, also the death of the King of Naples, and that of Pope Innocent VIII which led to the election of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia to Papacy, bearing the name Alexander VI; which later on became Savonarola’s bitterest enemy.

D. CONFLICT WITH THE MEDICIS

In 1491, Savonarola was elected the Prior of St. Mark’s Convent in Florence, and the Medicis hold this Convent to their power and influence. The Patriarch Lozano de Medici compelled Savonarola to pay homage to him as it is a tradition for a Prior to do so, to which Savonarola refused. He stands by the conviction that his election was from God and not the Medicis. Savonarola made a deal with the dying Lozano in exchange for his absolution. The deals were for Lozano to trust in the Mercy and Faith in God, to return his ill-gotten wealth, and finally to restore republican liberties of Florence. It was Savonarola’s dream to built a democratic set up for Florence where people would be free. His dream of Florence was sort of a Society that is free yet patterned after the City of God. Lozano refused to the last deal and he died without absolution.

E. THE INVASION OF FLORENCE AND SAVONAROLA’S GOVERNANCE

He oversaw the transfer of power upon the coming of King Charles VIII, and the fleeing of the Medicis, ensuring smooth transition and avoiding the slather of Florence. Using his influence, Savonarola was able to make to the King’s Good Graces. To this, he was given the sole rulership of Florence. He exercised his leadership as a pastor and through his powerful sermons. For him, the governor of Florence is God. For him, being sole ruler would make him tyrannical, and so the people must be empowered to elect Magistrates, establishing a truly a democratic set up.

The Bonfire of Vanities is one of the most remembered fruit of the Savonarolan role in Florence. It was a night that fired up all icons and objects of external beauty, external show of corruption of the human person, cosmetics and the likes. This is due to the fact that Savonarola's leadership is based on the will of God, that God is the sole governor and norm in the life of the city and its people. His government was a Theocratic one. This will go down to the memory of his opponents and shall use it against him.

F. CONFLICT WITH THE ARRABBIATI & THE HOLY LEAGUE

Savonarola was excommunicated in 1497 by the Pope. His rule in Florence started to decline when opposition to his governance was organised, the Arrabbiati. This party was composed of the Pope of course and the equally powerful Duke of Milan. Savonarols is now part of the system which the Holy League, a group created to opposed to King Charles, is seeking to perturb. Because of this rift, several Papal bulls and Letters were sent to Savonarola, and all ended disregarded by himself, citing many errors on these letters.

Savonarola, being a passionate preacher, casted new attacks at the Roman Court, and has attacked the lifestyle and sinfulness of the Borgia Pope claiming: “I attest to you in the name of Christ, this Alexander is not a Pope. I affirm that he is not Christian and he does not believe in the existence of God.” . His preachings made great impacts and has stirred emotion both in the people and the powers that be. The Pope attempted to silence him by offering him a Cardinal’s Hat, an offer he singlehandedly refused. Because of the Pope’s anger and embaracement, he banned Savonarola to preach and has threatened him with more excommunications over another.

G. HIS MARTYRDOM

Alexander VI threatened to interdict Florence if Savonarola continues his dissent of the Pope, and this was taken advantage of by his enemies who influenced riots and protests in San Marco to which Savonarola and one other monk succumb and faced trail. He was tortured severely and was sentenced to death for being a “heretic, schismatic, and scorner of the Holy See.” Savonarola was hung at the Piazza della Signora on May 25, 1498. His prophesies and harsh criticism of the Pope did not bear fruit as Alexander became an evil Pope. His Papacy is stained with nepotism, simony and scandals in the clergy of all kinds and gravity. He is judged in history today as the most notorious pope in the entirety of the Church’s history.

---

SOURCES:

Franzen, August. A History of the Church. Edited by John P. Dolan and Translated by

Peter Becker. Montereal: Palm Publishers 1965.

McNally, Robert E., S. J. Reform of the Church: Crisis and Criticism in Historical

Perspective. New York: Herder and Herder, 1963.

Pastor, Ludwig. The History of the Popes. Vol 5 of From the Close of the Middle Ages.

Edited and Translated by Frederick Ignatius Antrobus. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Turner & Co., LTD., 1923.