Church History Forerunners of the Reformation

Apostolic Church Apostolic Fathers Church Councils Church History Ca. 30AD590 AD1517 AD Golden Age of Church Fathers Reformation & Counter Reformation Rationalism, Revivalism, & Denominationalism Revivalism, Missions, & Modernism ? Ancient Church HistoryMedieval Church HistoryModern 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

Girolamo Savonarola 23 years Early Years 6 years Dominican Cloister 8 years Early Preaching Ministry 8 years 2 Great Controversies 1492 Columbus said the ocean blue 1450 Printing Press Leonardo DaVinci Michelangelo

Girolamo Savonarola 23 years Early Years

Girolamo Savonarola Sept. 21, 1453 to May 23, 1498 Born in Ferrara, in nothern Italy

Girolamo Savonarola Sept. 21, 1453 to May 23, rd of 7 children Born in Ferrara, in nothern Italy His grandfather was a famous physician. He was pious and wealthy. Described as bookish & broodish, he entered the study of medicine under his grandfather Disappointed in love, despairing in joy, disturbed by the worldliness & wickedness all around him, he fled to Bologna

Girolamo Savonarola 6 years Dominican Cloister At Bologna he entered the cloister of the Dominican order, the Order of 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

Girolamo Savonarola 6 years Dominican Cloister At Bologna he entered the cloister of the Dominican order, the Order of Preachers He studied the Scriptures, the writings of Aquinas & Augustine, gave himself to prayer & fasting, and committed large portions of scripture to memory He became a Hebrew & Greek tutor

Girolamo Savonarola 8 years Early Preaching Ministry Leaves cloister & returns to Ferrara to preach where he made little impression “The brothers must be in great need of workers.” The threat of war causes him to go to Florence. Florence was a city of the Renaissance & under the influence of the Medici family. Cosimo de Medici built St. Marks cloister where Savonarola would end up in Initially his preaching met with no success, so he discarded philosophy and scholastic learning and preached the Bible.

Girolamo Savonarola 8 years Early Preaching Ministry “His preaching was composed of Scripture, mysticism, dramatic ‘flashes of lightning and reverberations of thunder,’ attacks upon corrupt and insincere clergy, and prophetic insight (an acute political and religious intuition) – enhanced in the eyes of people when some bold forecasts came true.” King Charles VIII of France attacked Italy

Girolamo Savonarola 8 years 2 Great Controversies Lorenzo de Medici – the Magnificent controlled Florence and brought it to 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.

Girolamo Savonarola 8 years 2 Great Controversies Lorenzo de Medici – the Magnificent controlled Florence and brought it to its Renaissance heights. Lorenzo sought to win Savonarola over by blandishments and praise. Piero, Lorenzo’s son, comes to lead the de Medici family. King Charles VIII of France invades northern Italy. Becomes leader of Florence, w/out a position, and begins reforms, “Bonfire of the Vanities”

Girolamo Savonarola 8 years 2 Great Controversies Pope Alexander VI, corrupt pope

Pope Alexander VI to Pope from 1492 to 1503

Girolamo Savonarola 8 years 2 Great Controversies Pope Alexander VI, corrupt pope Savonarola attacked the Pope’s immoral lifestyle in 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 would have 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 through regeneration.  Popular favor is very fickle.