Church History

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Church History Forerunners of the Reformation
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Ancient Church History
Medieval Church History
Modern Church History
Reformation Counter Reformation
Apostolic Church
The First Medieval Pope
The Rise of the Holy Roman Empire
Apostolic Fathers
Rationalism, Revivalism, Denominationalism
Church Councils
The Crusades
Revivalism, Missions, Modernism
Golden Age of Church Fathers
The Papacy in Decline
The Pre-Reformers
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Christian Church in Decline
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Leonardo DaVinci 1452 - 1519
Michelangelo 1475-1564
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Born in Ferrara, in nothern Italy
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Born in Ferrara, in nothern Italy
3rd of 7 children
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
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At Bologna he entered the cloisterof the
Dominican order, the Orderof Preachers
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I could not endure any longer the wickedness of
the blinded peoples ofItaly. 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 thatHe 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, andGod in His
infinite mercy showed me the way, unworthy as I
am of suchdistinguishing grace . . . . The
reasons which drove me to become religiousare
these the miserable condition of the world and
the evils of which men areguilty, 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 anyregard for
what is good. Savonarola writing to his
parents to explain his departure
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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
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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.
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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
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Lorenzo de Medici the Magnificentcontrolled
Florence and brought itto its Renaissance
heights.
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The best known of the Medicis was Cosimos
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 Lorenzos leadership,
Florence became one of the most beautiful and
prosperous cities in Italy, as well as a center
of the Renaissance.
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Lorenzo de Medici the Magnificentcontrolled
Florence and brought itto its Renaissance
heights.
Lorenzo sought to win Savonarolaover by
blandishments and praise.
Piero, Lorenzos 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
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Pope Alexander VI, corrupt pope
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Pope Alexander VI, corrupt pope
Savonarola attacked the Popes immoral
lifestylein sermons.
Pope Alexander tried to bribe with money, a
cardinals 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.
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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.