The republication of Fr. O’Neil’s two works on Savonarola is among the first efforts of a significantly larger project dedicated to the comprehensive study of the Friar’s life, preaching, writings, and doctrine through the first-ever English translation of his opera omnia, which consists of more than twenty-five volumes.

This translation project will provide unprecedented access to his sermons, writings, and letters, with the aim not only of clarifying and rehabilitating his historical reputation, but also of offering to souls who desire to live virtuously and advance in the spiritual life a reliable guide and pastor conformed to the Heart of Christ.

A Comprehensive Scholarly Endeavour

The project also encompasses the translation and publication of important works concerning the Friar, including the biographies written by Fra Pacifico Burlamacchi and Giovanfrancesco Pico della Mirandola, as well as major studies such as Paolo Luotto’s Il vero Savonarola e il Savonarola di L. Pastor.

Critics have long exploited the narrative of a corrupt Church during Savonarola’s time, with both Protestants and revolutionaries attempting to claim him as their own. The monument to Martin Luther at Worms, which positions Savonarola at Luther’s feet as a supposed precursor, is one striking example of this misrepresentation.

Savonarola was not a forerunner of revolutionary ideologies, but a champion of true Catholic reform. He stands as a testament to the enduring sanctity of the Roman Catholic Church, even during some of the darkest periods of her history. As astonishing as it may seem, his life and teaching constitute a direct censure and refutation of the errors that would later fuel the Protestant revolt. To reflect the truth of history more accurately, the monument at Worms would better depict Savonarola stepping upon the mouth of Luther, silencing his blasphemies and dismantling his falsehoods.

Historical Rehabilitation and Canonical Glorification

There is a pressing need for Savonarola’s historical rehabilitation and, should he be deemed worthy by the Sovereign Pontiff, his canonical glorification. Savonarola’s unwavering commitment to truth—often mischaracterized as fanaticism or delusion—was nothing other than the consistent application of the Faith according to a Christian conscience properly formed in the school of the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas, and in the contemplative silence of the cells of San Domenico in Bologna and San Marco in Florence.

This project is critical to the initial stages of gathering documentation for the potential canonization of Savonarola, which was requested by the Dominican Order in 1935 and continues slowly today. By making these primary sources accessible in English for the first time, we seek to inspire contemporary readers through Savonarola’s preaching, doctrine, asceticism, prophecies, contemplation, mysticism, reforms, and martyrdom.

His was an exemplary life of virtue, sanctity, fidelity to the Roman Catholic Church and the Sovereign Pontiff, and love for Our Lord Jesus Christ. Five centuries later, Father Girolamo’s life and words still possess the power to reinvigorate the spiritual and moral fibre of individuals and of society at large.

A Patron-Supported Publishing Model

There are a number of seemingly insurmountable difficulties associated with a project of this magnitude. Translation costs alone make similar undertakings financially unviable for large publishers, which either underpay translators or avoid such publications altogether.

We are fully aware of these challenges and, after receiving wise counsel from experienced academics and scholars, have adopted a hybrid model to help crowdfund the project. The structure is simple but distinctive, relying upon the support of generous patrons to cover the costs of translation, design, and publication.