Jerome (Girolamo) Savonarola retired to his pastorate at St. Mark’s. His followers barricaded the position because the Pope wanted him to be secretly captured and taken to Rome for trial. His crime was that of preaching God’s certain and impending judgment upon the corrupt Roman clergy, and the pleasure-loving Florentines.
The Pope had issued his Bull of Excommunication, and the order removing Savonarola from his office as Prior of St. Mark’s. The answer of Savonarola to this Bull was a sermon in the form of a defense, He claimed, and rightly, that he was no heretic for no obligations the Church asked had he ever disregarded. Therefore the Pope had no right to silence him. He declared that Alexander was no Pope, because he had deliberately bought his way into the Vatican.
*Savonarola might have escaped, but there he remained, holding the place, and preaching to the faithful few who stood by him.
*(NOTE: Savonarola was ready to fight the Pope and his followers, but when the safety of the Florentines was in question he commanded his men not to fight. Ready to flee, he found a coward in his midst who would have turned him in by saying, "the Shepherd ought to lay down his life for the sheep." Not willing to be betrayed as a coward but to teach the people how a Christian dies, he made no resistance to the mob. We are not martyrs on purpose. Read about it in THE MONK and the PRINCE.)
Finally, the walls were stormed, and police, soldiers and populace overran the monastery. Savonarola remained passive and he even reproved several monks who, armed with clubs, made stout resistance.
The warrants for arrest called only for Fra (Brother) Girolamo, Fra Domenico, and Fra Silvestro--these last being his most faithful disciples, preaching often in his pulpit and echoing his words.
The prisoners were bound and hurried through the streets toward the Piazzo Signoria. They were lodged in separate cells, and each was importuned to recant the charges made against the Pope and the wealthy family of the Medicis.
All refused recantations even when they were told the others had recanted. Savonarola’s judges were chosen from among his most bitter foes. He was brought before them, and ordered to retract his accusations, He remained silent. When he was threatened, he answered in a parable. It was then he was taken to the torture cell, stripped of all clothing, and a thin but strong rope was tied about his body under his arms. Then they began to suddenly draw him, up and drop him. This was repeated until the cord around the man’s body was buried in his skill, and his form was covered with his blood.
The physically sensitive nature of the man gave way and he recanted. But upon being returned to his cell, he repeated all he had said before against the Pope, and called aloud, "Lord Jesus, pardon me that I forsook Thy truth--it was the torture--I now repeat all I ever said from Thy pulpit--Lord Jesus, pardon!"
Again, he was taken to the torture chamber and all was gone over as before. He and his two companions were now formally condemned to death and their day of execution set. To know the worst is peace: it is uncertainty that kills.
His hands were raised in blessing to friend and foe alike. The day of execution came and the Piazza Signoria was filled with a vast concourse of people. Every square foot of space was taken. Platforms had been erected and seats sold for fabulous prices. Every window was filled with faces. An elevated walk had been constructed out
of the second story of the prison to the executioner’s platform. From this high scaffold rose a great cross with ropes and chains dangling from the arms. Below were faggots piled to a prodigious height and saturated with oil.
There was a wild exultant yell from the enemies of the men as they appeared; but others appeared dazed by their success. It seemed for a few moments that pity would take the place of hate. It was as though the mob would demand the release of the men. Yet, the prisoners walked firmly and conversed in undertones encouraging each other to stand firm.
Each held a crucifix and pressed it to his lips as he repeated the creed. Their priestly robes were then stripped from them, and they stood clad only in scant underclothes. At this, the mob again began to seethe and mock.
Is this the end of men who have been faithful to their Lord? Surely God will spare them, will he not? Read about it in the next edition of THE ANGELUS.
*1, 1444 B.C.: --The cloud is taken up from off the Tabernacle, and the Israelites leave the Wilderness of Sinai to march to the Wilderness of Paran. This is the 20th day of the 2nd month called "Iyar" and the 2nd year in the Exodus from Egypt. --Numbers 10:11,12.
2, 1507--Martin Luther is ordained a priest of Rome having spent two years in the Augustinian monastery.
4, 1881--Mount Hermon School for Young Men is opened for boys between the ages of 8-12 years. It is founded by Dwight Lyman Moody and is located in New Haven, Connecticut.
5, 1521--Martin Luther is kidnapped by friends and is taken to the Castle of Wartburg where he will assume the disguise of a knight and where he will be known as "Knight George."
A price having been fixed on his head at the Diet at Worms, his friends feel he cannot safely reach his home at Wittemburg, Germany.
6, 1415--The Council of Constance has condemned the work of John Wycliffe, the mighty man of God will be later dubbed by History as "The Morning Star of the Reformation."
Though dead, his very grave will be disturbed and his bones will be committed to the flames for burning.
*8,.... : Noah and his family, along with the animals leave their refuge of the Ark.-- Genesis 8:14-19.
9, 1672--John Bunyan is licensed to preach. A member of Bunyan’s congregation, Josiah Roughead by name, has purchased a barn in an orchard where people can be fed the Word of God.
9, 1836--Charlotte Elliott, now 47 years of age and an invalid, will reminisce how that 14 years earlier, she had received Christ as Saviour when Dr. Caesar Malan exhorted her to come to Him "just as she was." She will pen her spiritual autobiography in 7 stanzas beginning, "Just as I am, without one plea but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee, Oh, Lamb of God, I come."
16, 1855--Dwight Lyman Moody has been awakened to his need of salvation. He has become anxious about himself; he sees himself a sinner, and sin now seems hateful to him whereas holiness has become desirable.
He thinks he is repentant and has purposed to give up sin. He feels dependent upon Christ for His forgiveness. He loves the Scriptures and prayer. He desires to be useful and to be "religiously educated"... He is not ashamed to be known as a Christian. He is 18 years of age.
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*All dates with reference to the Jewish calendar may be as much as two weeks off in actuality. This is due to the rotation of it. Our calendar dates vary with a 7-day period over the same number of years.