Church History

Forerunners of the Reformation

Apostolic Church

Apostolic Fathers

Church Councils

Church History

Ca. 30AD 590 AD 1517 AD

Golden Age of Church Fathers

Reformation & Counter Reformation

Rationalism, Revivalism, & Denominationalism

Revivalism, Missions, & Modernism

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Ancient Church History Medieval Church History Modern Church History

The Pre-Reformers

The First Medieval Pope

The Rise of the Holy Roman Empire

The Crusades

The Papacy in Decline

Christian Church in Decline

Internal Reform External Opposition

Waldensians . . . .

Mystics

Reforming Councils

Forerunners of the Reformation

Renaissance . . .

Nation State

Greek Orthodox Church

Failure of the Clergy . . . . . .

Papal Taxation

Rise of the Nation State

Babylonian Captivity

Great Schism

Growing Middle Class

1452 1498

Girolamo Savonarola

23 years

Early Years

6 years

DominicanCloister

8 years

EarlyPreachingMinistry

8 years

2 GreatControversies

1492 Columbus said the ocean blue1450

PrintingPress

Leonardo DaVinci 1452 - 1519

Michelangelo 1475-1564

1452 1498

Girolamo Savonarola

23 years

Early Years

Girolamo SavonarolaSept. 21, 1453 to

May 23, 1498

Born in Ferrara, in nothern Italy

Girolamo SavonarolaSept. 21, 1453 to

May 23, 1498

3rd of 7 children

Born in Ferrara, in nothern Italy

His grandfather was a famous physician. He was pious andwealthy.

Described as bookish & broodish, he entered the study of medicine under his grandfather

Disappointed in love, despairingin joy, disturbed by the worldliness& wickedness all around him, he fled to Bologna

1452 1498

Girolamo Savonarola

6 years

DominicanCloister

At Bologna he entered the cloisterof the Dominican order, the Orderof Preachers

I could not endure any longer the wickedness of the blinded peoples of

Italy. Virtue I saw despised everywhere and vices exalted and held in

honor. With great warmth of heart, I made daily a short prayer to God that

He might release me from the vale of tears. “Make known to me the way,”

I cried, “the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto Thee,” and

God in His infinite mercy showed me the way, unworthy as I am of such

distinguishing grace . . . . The reasons which drove me to become religious

are these: the miserable condition of the world and the evils of which men are

guilty, such as rape, immorality, robbery, pride, idolatry, cursing, all in such

grave measure that it may be said that no one can be found who has any

regard for what is good.

Savonarola – writing to his parents to explain his departure

1452 1498

Girolamo Savonarola

6 years

DominicanCloister

At Bologna he entered the cloisterof the Dominican order, the Orderof Preachers

He studied the Scriptures, the writingsof Aquinas & Augustine, gave himselfto prayer & fasting, and committed large portions of scripture to memory

He became a Hebrew & Greektutor

1452 1498

Girolamo Savonarola

8 years

EarlyPreachingMinistry

Leaves cloister & returns to Ferrarato preach where he made littleimpression

“The brothers must be in greatneed of workers.”

The threat of war causes him to go toFlorence.

Florence was a city of the Renaissance &under the influence of the Medici family.

Cosimo de Medici built St. Marks cloisterwhere Savonarola would end up in 1481.

Initially his preaching met with no success,so he discarded philosophy and scholasticlearning and preached the Bible.

1452 1498

Girolamo Savonarola

8 years

EarlyPreachingMinistry

“His preaching was composed of Scripture, mysticism, dramatic ‘flashesof lightning and reverberations ofthunder,’ attacks upon corrupt and insincere clergy, and prophetic insight(an acute political and religious intuition) – enhanced in the eyes of peoplewhen some bold forecasts came true.”

King Charles VIII of Franceattacked Italy

1452 1498

Girolamo Savonarola

8 years

2 GreatControversies

Lorenzo de Medici – the Magnificentcontrolled Florence and brought itto its Renaissance heights.

The best known of the Medicis was Cosimo’s grandson, Lorenzo, who was known as “Lorenzo the Magnificent.” Lorenzo was not only a shrewd banker and clever politician; he was also a scholar and a poet. Under Lorenzo’s leadership, Florence became one of the most beautiful and prosperous cities in Italy, as well as a center of the Renaissance.

1452 1498

Girolamo Savonarola

8 years

2 GreatControversies

Lorenzo de Medici – the Magnificentcontrolled Florence and brought itto its Renaissance heights.

Lorenzo sought to win Savonarolaover by blandishments and praise.

Piero, Lorenzo’s son, comes to leadthe de Medici family.

King Charles VIII of France invadesnorthern Italy.

Becomes leader of Florence, w/out a position,and begins reforms, “Bonfire of the Vanities”

1452 1498

Girolamo Savonarola

8 years

2 GreatControversies

Pope Alexander VI, corrupt pope

Pope Alexander VI.1431 to 1503.

Pope from 1492 to 1503

1452 1498

Girolamo Savonarola

8 years

2 GreatControversies

Pope Alexander VI, corrupt pope

Savonarola attacked the Pope’s immoral lifestylein sermons.

Pope Alexander tried to bribe with money, a cardinal’s hat, and then forbid him to preach.

The Pope threatened the city with an interdict, that wouldhave ruined the financial stability of the city. They began to turn on Savonarola.

Letters were intercepted written by Savonarola to other European heads of state calling for a General Council

Savonarola arrested, medieval test of ordeal, rainstorm, the mob stormed St. Marks.

Savonarola tried, convicted, hung and his body burned.

Lessons Learned From Savonarola

An example of relying on the authority of the Scriptures.

True reform does not come through political reform, but throughregeneration.

Popular favor is very fickle.