Lagura: Another Dominican burned at the stake

Fr. Flor Lagura SVD

Giordano Bruno

(1548-1600)

HARDLY had Catholic Italy witnessed the death by burning at the stake of the Dominican friar, Savonarola -- a bitter critic of the luxurious lifestyle of church officials, when another Dominican, Giordano Bruno, met violent opposition from Church theologians.

Giordano Bruno, baptized Jordanus Brunus Nolanus, came from the Kingdom of Naples.

A brilliant student who finished his studies in the liberal arts at top European universities, the young man entered the Dominican Order, famed for their philosophers, theologians and preachers.

But it was in the field of science that he, already recognized as a poet, philosopher, mathematician and linguist, caught the attention of the academic world.

Giordano Bruno revived the then highly controversial Copernican theory whose advocate was Galileo Galilei. Both men got condemned, not for claiming that the sun is the center of our planetary system, i.e., heliocentrism, but for being immoral. Foes fought them, not on scientific grounds, but by attacking their persons, using “ad hominem” argument, for how can Copernicus or Galieo be believed when they were immoral. Copernicus, a Polish priest, had a mistress, while Galileo, while not married, had a concubine.

What made matters worse for Giordano Bruno was when he stated that two sets of truth are possible, and since there are billions of galaxies, each with billions of stars, then our earth is not the center of the universe. Theologians claim otherwise, stating that on account of the Mystery of Incarnation, our planet is the most important heavenly body, hence, it is the center of the universe.

When Giordano Bruno refused to recant his views, Church officials ordered him to be burned at the stake.

At his death of May 29, 1600, his friends mourned the death of one who fought for freedom to think in science.

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