Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Order of Preachers

Letters

Sep 10, 1493

15 min read

To the Prioress of San Domenico in Pisa

May the grace of God preserve you in the love of Christ Jesus. Your letter was most pleasing to me, and I willingly read your admonition, knowing it to proceed from zeal for charity; and in this I recognize that you love me in truth, without dissimulation, according to the teaching of Jesus Christ. Would that God granted that I might speak with you face to face, and set forth the beginning, the means, and the end of our affairs! I am certain that all would then be according to your desire.

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Letters

Sep 10, 1493

15 min read

To the Prioress of San Domenico in Pisa

May the grace of God preserve you in the love of Christ Jesus. Your letter was most pleasing to me, and I willingly read your admonition, knowing it to proceed from zeal for charity; and in this I recognize that you love me in truth, without dissimulation, according to the teaching of Jesus Christ. Would that God granted that I might speak with you face to face, and set forth the beginning, the means, and the end of our affairs! I am certain that all would then be according to your desire.

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Spiritual Treatises

Sep 20, 2024

4 min read

The Reform of the Church

Do you wish to see in what manner we propose to reform the Church that is in ruins?

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Spiritual Treatises

Sep 20, 2024

4 min read

The Reform of the Church

Do you wish to see in what manner we propose to reform the Church that is in ruins?

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Doctrinal and Apologetics Works

Sep 20, 2024

12 min read

Solace for My Pilgrimage, bk. I

Spiritus: As I find myself contemplating, far from the presence of God, the return to the Father's house, you, O my Bride, must come with me. Anima: But I do not know by what path we may walk toward such salvation. Sp: Our path is Christ. An: But faith is uncertain. Sp: For one who wishes to draw near to God, it is necessary to believe. An: Yet one who believes too easily is light of heart. Sp: But to believe in God is an act of the utmost gravity. An: Has God perhaps spoken with you? Sp: No, but I believe those to whom God has deigned to speak. An: And how do you know that they have heard God speaking Sp: Miracles have proven it to me. An: But miracles belong to the past; then by what arguments may I believe now? Sp: Do you doubt, perhaps, that God exists? An: Even this leaves many in uncertainty, for "No one has ever seen God" (Jn 1:18). Sp: But such people are certainly devoid of intelligence, according to these words: "The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’" (Ps 13:1). An: And by what arguments do you prove that God exists?

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Doctrinal and Apologetics Works

Sep 20, 2024

12 min read

Solace for My Pilgrimage, bk. I

Spiritus: As I find myself contemplating, far from the presence of God, the return to the Father's house, you, O my Bride, must come with me. Anima: But I do not know by what path we may walk toward such salvation. Sp: Our path is Christ. An: But faith is uncertain. Sp: For one who wishes to draw near to God, it is necessary to believe. An: Yet one who believes too easily is light of heart. Sp: But to believe in God is an act of the utmost gravity. An: Has God perhaps spoken with you? Sp: No, but I believe those to whom God has deigned to speak. An: And how do you know that they have heard God speaking Sp: Miracles have proven it to me. An: But miracles belong to the past; then by what arguments may I believe now? Sp: Do you doubt, perhaps, that God exists? An: Even this leaves many in uncertainty, for "No one has ever seen God" (Jn 1:18). Sp: But such people are certainly devoid of intelligence, according to these words: "The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’" (Ps 13:1). An: And by what arguments do you prove that God exists?

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Spiritual Treatises

Sep 20, 2024

27 min read

Exposition on the Ave Maria

This most devout and angelic salutation, which the Holy Church offers daily through the mouths of her devoted sons and daughters to the most glorious Mother of the beloved Bridegroom, Christ Jesus, was composed by the Holy Spirit: in part through the mouth of the angel Gabriel, in part through the mouth of Saint Elizabeth, mother of Saint John the Baptist, and in part through the mouth of the Holy Church.

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Spiritual Treatises

Sep 20, 2024

27 min read

Exposition on the Ave Maria

This most devout and angelic salutation, which the Holy Church offers daily through the mouths of her devoted sons and daughters to the most glorious Mother of the beloved Bridegroom, Christ Jesus, was composed by the Holy Spirit: in part through the mouth of the angel Gabriel, in part through the mouth of Saint Elizabeth, mother of Saint John the Baptist, and in part through the mouth of the Holy Church.

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Sermons

Feb 11, 1498

49 min read

Sermon I on Exodus

My Lord, this morning I, dust and ashes, first wish to speak to your majesty. Were it not presumptuous, I would desire to speak with you face to face; but that is not possible because my eye cannot reach your light. You, my Lord, have set limits to every creature, and my corporeal eye cannot extend beyond the limits you have set for it. It is finite and limited to seeing colors and material light, and cannot penetrate your infinite light. My intellect and my natural light, while in this body, cannot penetrate your light and cannot see you, for there many things in the imagination that impede it. Even when it is separated from this body, it will not be able to see or understand you by its nature, for you are infinite, and you have set limits to every intellect. Even then it will not be able to understand or see you except through creatures and according to its finite limits.

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Sermons

Feb 11, 1498

49 min read

Sermon I on Exodus

My Lord, this morning I, dust and ashes, first wish to speak to your majesty. Were it not presumptuous, I would desire to speak with you face to face; but that is not possible because my eye cannot reach your light. You, my Lord, have set limits to every creature, and my corporeal eye cannot extend beyond the limits you have set for it. It is finite and limited to seeing colors and material light, and cannot penetrate your infinite light. My intellect and my natural light, while in this body, cannot penetrate your light and cannot see you, for there many things in the imagination that impede it. Even when it is separated from this body, it will not be able to see or understand you by its nature, for you are infinite, and you have set limits to every intellect. Even then it will not be able to understand or see you except through creatures and according to its finite limits.

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Sermons

May 4, 1497

28 min read

Sermon on the Ascension

How great is the power of faith, beloved in Christ Jesus, is manifested by our Savior when he says: Si habueritis fidem sicut granum sinapis, dicitis monti huic: Transi hinc, et transibit, et nihil impossibile erit vobis, that is, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. And although this authority should be sufficient for us, nevertheless, for greater understanding, we will still prove by reason that faith is extremely powerful, speaking especially of formed faith.

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Sermons

May 4, 1497

28 min read

Sermon on the Ascension

How great is the power of faith, beloved in Christ Jesus, is manifested by our Savior when he says: Si habueritis fidem sicut granum sinapis, dicitis monti huic: Transi hinc, et transibit, et nihil impossibile erit vobis, that is, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. And although this authority should be sufficient for us, nevertheless, for greater understanding, we will still prove by reason that faith is extremely powerful, speaking especially of formed faith.

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Spiritual Treatises

May 1, 1498

4 min read

Exposition on the Fiftieth Psalm

Alas! wretch that I am, destitute of all aid! Who have offended both heaven and earth! Whither shall I go? Whither shall I turn? To whom shall I flee for refuge? Who will have compassion on me? To heaven I dare not lift mine eyes, for I have grievously sinned against it. On earth I find no place of refuge, for I have been an offense unto it. What then shall I do? Shall I yield to despair? God forbid. God is merciful. Faithful is my Saviour. Therefore God alone is my refuge.

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Spiritual Treatises

May 1, 1498

4 min read

Exposition on the Fiftieth Psalm

Alas! wretch that I am, destitute of all aid! Who have offended both heaven and earth! Whither shall I go? Whither shall I turn? To whom shall I flee for refuge? Who will have compassion on me? To heaven I dare not lift mine eyes, for I have grievously sinned against it. On earth I find no place of refuge, for I have been an offense unto it. What then shall I do? Shall I yield to despair? God forbid. God is merciful. Faithful is my Saviour. Therefore God alone is my refuge.

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Letters

Mar 3, 1498

2 min read

To Pope Alexander VI, 1497[8]

Most blessed Father, Since it is the charge of every Christian to defend the honor of God, the faith of Christ, and the rectitude of good living, and seeing the flock led astray by the wicked example of many pastors who have departed from the way of truth, I have preached the Gospel, confirming and strengthening the faith, teaching the Christian life, declaring by divine inspiration the things to come, that men might be brought unto repentance. With all diligence have I labored to preserve peace in this city, and for this cause have I suffered, and do yet suffer, many persecutions at the hands of wicked men.

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Letters

Mar 3, 1498

2 min read

To Pope Alexander VI, 1497[8]

Most blessed Father, Since it is the charge of every Christian to defend the honor of God, the faith of Christ, and the rectitude of good living, and seeing the flock led astray by the wicked example of many pastors who have departed from the way of truth, I have preached the Gospel, confirming and strengthening the faith, teaching the Christian life, declaring by divine inspiration the things to come, that men might be brought unto repentance. With all diligence have I labored to preserve peace in this city, and for this cause have I suffered, and do yet suffer, many persecutions at the hands of wicked men.

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Load More

Letters

Sep 1493

15 min read

To the Prioress of San Domenico in Pisa

May the grace of God preserve you in the love of Christ Jesus. Your letter was most pleasing to me, and I willingly read your admonition, knowing it to proceed from zeal for charity; and in this I recognize that you love me in truth, without dissimulation, according to the teaching of Jesus Christ. Would that God granted that I might speak with you face to face, and set forth the beginning, the means, and the end of our affairs! I am certain that all would then be according to your desire.

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Spiritual Treatises

Sep 2024

4 min read

The Reform of the Church

Do you wish to see in what manner we propose to reform the Church that is in ruins?

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Doctrinal and Apologetics Works

Sep 2024

12 min read

Solace for My Pilgrimage, bk. I

Spiritus: As I find myself contemplating, far from the presence of God, the return to the Father's house, you, O my Bride, must come with me. Anima: But I do not know by what path we may walk toward such salvation. Sp: Our path is Christ. An: But faith is uncertain. Sp: For one who wishes to draw near to God, it is necessary to believe. An: Yet one who believes too easily is light of heart. Sp: But to believe in God is an act of the utmost gravity. An: Has God perhaps spoken with you? Sp: No, but I believe those to whom God has deigned to speak. An: And how do you know that they have heard God speaking Sp: Miracles have proven it to me. An: But miracles belong to the past; then by what arguments may I believe now? Sp: Do you doubt, perhaps, that God exists? An: Even this leaves many in uncertainty, for "No one has ever seen God" (Jn 1:18). Sp: But such people are certainly devoid of intelligence, according to these words: "The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’" (Ps 13:1). An: And by what arguments do you prove that God exists?

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Spiritual Treatises

Sep 2024

27 min read

Exposition on the Ave Maria

This most devout and angelic salutation, which the Holy Church offers daily through the mouths of her devoted sons and daughters to the most glorious Mother of the beloved Bridegroom, Christ Jesus, was composed by the Holy Spirit: in part through the mouth of the angel Gabriel, in part through the mouth of Saint Elizabeth, mother of Saint John the Baptist, and in part through the mouth of the Holy Church.

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Sermons

Feb 1498

49 min read

Sermon I on Exodus

My Lord, this morning I, dust and ashes, first wish to speak to your majesty. Were it not presumptuous, I would desire to speak with you face to face; but that is not possible because my eye cannot reach your light. You, my Lord, have set limits to every creature, and my corporeal eye cannot extend beyond the limits you have set for it. It is finite and limited to seeing colors and material light, and cannot penetrate your infinite light. My intellect and my natural light, while in this body, cannot penetrate your light and cannot see you, for there many things in the imagination that impede it. Even when it is separated from this body, it will not be able to see or understand you by its nature, for you are infinite, and you have set limits to every intellect. Even then it will not be able to understand or see you except through creatures and according to its finite limits.

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Sermons

May 1497

28 min read

Sermon on the Ascension

How great is the power of faith, beloved in Christ Jesus, is manifested by our Savior when he says: Si habueritis fidem sicut granum sinapis, dicitis monti huic: Transi hinc, et transibit, et nihil impossibile erit vobis, that is, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. And although this authority should be sufficient for us, nevertheless, for greater understanding, we will still prove by reason that faith is extremely powerful, speaking especially of formed faith.

Fra Girolamo Savonarola, O.P.

Load More