Letter to his father on entering the Dominicans (25 April 1475)
Girolamo, aged 22, explains to his father Niccolo why he has secretly left home to become a Dominican friar.
Written the day after he left Ferrara secretly to join the Dominicans in Bologna.
Italian text: Pasquale Villari and Eugenio Casanova, eds., Scelta di prediche e scritti di fra Girolamo Savonarola, con nuovi documenti intorno alla sua vita (Florence: Carnesecchi, 1898). English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).
1Villari and Casanova, Scelta (1898), p. 419-420
Iese Cristo. Honorande Pater mi. Io non dubito ch'el vi duole assai de la partita, e tanto più quanto io mi son partito occultamente da voi; ma io voglio che intendiati l'animo mio e la volontà mia per queste lettere, a ciò che vi confortati, e che intendiati che io non mi son mosso cosi puerilmente, come alcuni si credono. E prima, da voi voglio, come da omo virile e sprezzatore de le cose caduche, che più tosto voi siati settator de la verità che de le passioni, come fanno le femminule; e che voi giudicate secondo lo imperio de ragione, se io doveva fuggire il seculo e seguir questo mio preposito. In primis la ragione la quale me muove ad intrar ne la relegione è questa: prima, la gran miseria del mondo, le iniquitate degli omini, gli stupri, gli adulteri, i latrocini, la superbia, la idolatria, le biasteme crudele; che seculo è venuto a tanto che più non si trova chi faccia bene; dove io, più volte il di, io cantava questo verso lacrimando: Heu fuge crudeles terras, fuge littus avarum. E questo perché io non potea patire la gran malizia di cecati populi de Italia; e tanto io vedea le virtute esser spente al fondo e i vizi sollevati. Questa era la maggior passion che io potesse avere in questo mondo; per la quale cosa io pregava ogni giorne messer lesù Cristo che mi volesse levare da questo fango; e cosi faceva continuamente orazione piccolina con grandissima devozione a Iddio, dicendo: notam fac michi viam in qua ambulem quia ad te levavi animam meam.
Jesus Christ. My honoured father. I do not doubt that my departure grieves you greatly, and all the more because I left you secretly; but I want you to understand my mind and my will through this letter, so that you may be comforted, and so that you may understand that I have not acted as childishly as some believe. And first, I want you, as a manly man and a despiser of perishable things, to be a follower of the truth rather than of the passions, as weak women are; and to judge by the rule of reason whether I ought to flee the world and follow this purpose of mine. First of all, the reason that moves me to enter religious life is this: first, the great misery of the world, the iniquities of men, the rapes, the adulteries, the robberies, the pride, the idolatry, the cruel blasphemies; for the age has come to such a pass that no one can be found any longer who does good. So many times a day I used to sing this verse with tears: “Alas, flee the cruel lands, flee the greedy shore.” And this because I could not bear the great wickedness of the blinded peoples of Italy; so far did I see the virtues sunk to the bottom and the vices raised up. This was the greatest suffering I could have in this world; and for this reason I prayed every day to the Lord Jesus Christ that he would lift me out of this mire; and so I continually made a little prayer with the greatest devotion to God, saying: “Make known to me the way in which I should walk, for I have lifted up my soul to you.”
Ps 143:8 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Savonarola tells his father that he left home secretly to become a friar because he could no longer bear the wickedness of the world, and had long prayed God to show him the way.
- The letter opens and closes with Latin phrases (“Honorande pater mi”, the date, the signature), translated here.
- The Latin verse is adapted from Virgil, Aeneid 3.44 (“heu fuge crudelis terras, fuge litus avarum”).
- The closing prayer is Ps 143:8 [Vulgate Ps 142:8], quoted in Latin.
- “Religious life” renders “la relegione”, entry into a religious order.
- The printed text reads “lesù” for “Iesù” (Jesus) throughout the letter, an OCR slip translated by sense.
Cite (SBL): Savonarola, Ep. patr. §1 (Villari and Casanova, Scelta (1898), pp. 419–420; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/savonarola/letter-to-his-father-1475/#p-1).
Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-27
2Villari and Casanova, Scelta (1898), p. 420
Or Iddio, quando a lui ha piaciuto, per sua infenita misericordia, me l'ha mostrata; e io l'ho ricevuta, ben eh' io sia indegno di tanta grazia. Risponditime adonca: non è gran virtute de uno omo a fuggir le sporcizie e le iniquitate del miser mondo, per voler vivere come razionale e non come bestia fra i porci? E etiam non seria stata una grande ingratitudine la mia, ad aver pregato Iddio che mi mostri la via dritta, per la quale io ho a camminare, e lui essendosi dignato di mostrarmela, e poi che io non l'avesse accetata? Oimè! lesù mio, più tosto mille morte, che contra di te io mai sia ingrato per tal modo. Si che, dulcissime pater più tosto aveti da rengraziar messer lesù, che da pianger; il quale ve ha dato uno figliolo, e dippoi ve ha conservato fino a li XXII anni assai bene; e non solamente questo, ma ancora si è dignato de farlo suo melitanto cavaliero. Oimè! non reputati gran grazia avere un figliolo cavaliero de lesu Cristo? Sed, ut breviter loquar: o vero che voi mo amati, o vero non. So ben che non diresti che non me amati. Se adonca voi me amati; cum sit ch'io abbia due parte, cioè l'anima e corpo, o vero che più amati el corpo o l'anima: non poteti dir el corpo, perché voi non mi amaresti, amando la più vile parte di me. Se adonca più amati anima, perché non cercati ancor lo bene de anima? Che certo voi deveresti giubilare, e far gran festa di questo trionfo.
Now God, when it pleased him, in his infinite mercy has shown it to me; and I have received it, though I am unworthy of so great a grace. Answer me, then: is it not a great virtue in a man to flee the filth and the iniquities of this wretched world, wishing to live as a rational being and not as a beast among swine? And would it not also have been a great ingratitude on my part to have prayed God to show me the straight way in which I am to walk, and then, when he had deigned to show it to me, not to have accepted it? Alas, my Jesus, rather a thousand deaths than that I should ever be ungrateful to you in such a way. So, sweetest father, you have more reason to thank the Lord Jesus than to weep; for he gave you a son, and then kept him for you in good health up to twenty-two years of age; and not only this, but he has also deigned to make him his knight militant. Alas, do you not count it a great grace to have a son who is a knight of Jesus Christ? But, to speak briefly: either you love me or you do not. I know well that you would not say that you do not love me. If, then, you love me, since I have two parts, namely the soul and the body, you love either the body more or the soul. You cannot say the body, because you would not be loving me if you loved the vilest part of me. If, then, you love the soul more, why do you not seek the good of the soul as well? For surely you ought to rejoice and make a great feast over this triumph.
Notes and citation
Summary: He argues that his father should thank God rather than weep, since loving his son means loving his soul above his body.
- “The straight way” recalls the prayer of Ps 143:8 quoted at the end of section 1.
- “Knight militant” renders “melitanto cavaliero” (militant knight), a soldier of Christ.
- “O vero che voi mo amati” is read as “me amati” (you love me), as the sentence requires.
Notes on the original text
- Printed text read “ut hreviter”; corrected to “ut breviter” (OCR slip).
Cite (SBL): Savonarola, Ep. patr. §2 (Villari and Casanova, Scelta (1898), p. 420; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/savonarola/letter-to-his-father-1475/#p-2).
Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-27
3Villari and Casanova, Scelta (1898), p. 420-421
Sciò ben però, che non si puoi far che la carne non doglia alquanto; ma la se vole refrenare da la ragione, praesertim da li omeni sapienti e magnanimi come sete voi. Non credeti voi eh' el me sia sta gran doglia a separarme da voi? Certo, io voglio che me crediati; che già mai, doppoi eh' io son nato, non ebbi maggior dolor né maggiore afflizione di mente, vedendome abbandonare il proprio sangue, e andare fra gente ignota, per far sacrifizio a lesù Cristo del corpo mio, e per vendere la mia propria voluntà ne le mane di coloro che mai non conobbi. Ma, dippoi, ripensando che Iddio mi chiama, e che lui non se sdegnò fra noi vermicelli farse servo; non seria mai tanto ardito, che io non mi inclinase alla sua voce dolcissima e tanto pia: Venite ad me omnes qui laboratis et onerati estis, et ego reficiam vos: tollite iugum meum super vos etc. Ma perché sciò che voi di me vi lamentati, che cosi occultamente sia partito, e quasi fuggito da voi; sapiati che tanto era il mio dolore e la passion eh' io sentiva dentro del core, dovendomi partire da voi, che se io ve lo avesse manifestato, io credo veramente che innanzi che io me fosse partito da voi, il me seria crepato il core, e averla impedito il mio pensiero, il mio atto: si che non ve meravigliati se io non ve lo dissi. E vero eh' io lassai certe scritte de dietro da li libri che sono appoggiati alla finestra, le quale vi davano notizia de' fatti miei.
I know well, however, that it is not possible for the flesh not to grieve somewhat; but it must be restrained by reason, especially in wise and great-souled men such as you are. Do you not believe that it has been a great grief to me to separate myself from you? Certainly, I want you to believe me: never since I was born have I had greater sorrow or greater affliction of mind than in seeing myself abandon my own blood and go among unknown people, to make a sacrifice of my body to Jesus Christ and to sell my own will into the hands of people I have never known. But then, considering that God is calling me, and that he did not disdain to make himself a servant among us little worms, I could never be so bold as not to bow to his most sweet and so loving voice: “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will refresh you; take my yoke upon you,” etc. But because I know that you complain of me for leaving so secretly, almost running away from you, know that my sorrow and the suffering I felt within my heart at having to leave you were so great that if I had revealed it to you, I truly believe that my heart would have broken before I had left you, and it would have hindered my plan and my act; so do not be surprised that I did not tell you. It is true that I left certain writings behind the books that lean against the window, which would give you news of what I had done.
Matt 11:28–29 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: He explains that leaving his family was the greatest sorrow of his life, but he could not refuse Christ's call, and he left secretly because telling them would have broken his heart.
- The Latin quotation is Matt 11:28–29 in the Vulgate.
- “To sell my own will” renders “vendere la mia propria voluntà”: to give up his will in the vow of obedience.
Notes on the original text
- Printed text read “]))'aesertim”; corrected to “praesertim” (OCR slip).
- Printed text read “refflciam”; corrected to “reficiam” (OCR slip).
- Printed text read “stqer”; corrected to “super” (OCR slip).
Cite (SBL): Savonarola, Ep. patr. §3 (Villari and Casanova, Scelta (1898), pp. 420–421; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/savonarola/letter-to-his-father-1475/#p-3).
Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-27
4Villari and Casanova, Scelta (1898), p. 421-422
Vi prego, adonca, padre mio caro, che poniati fine ai pianti, e che non me vogliati dare più tristezza e più dolore eh' io me abbia; non per dolore di questo eh' io ho fatto, che certo io noi revocarla, se io credesse de venire maggiore che non fu Cesare; ma pur perché ancora io son di carne come voi, e la sensualità repugna alla ragione, di che il mi convien combatre crudelmente, a ciò eh' el diavolo non mi salti sopra le spalle; e tanto più, quanto io sento di voi. Presto passaranno questi giorni nei quali il male è fresco, e doppo, spero che voi et io seremo consolati in questo mondo per grazia, e poi ne l'altro per gloria. Altro non resta, se non eh' io vi prego che voi, come virile, confortati mia madre, la quale io prego insieme con voi, che mi donati la vostra benedizione; et io sempre pregarò ferventemente per le anime vostre. Ex Bononia die v aprilis 1475. Io ve riccomando tutti i miei fratelli e sorelle, ma specialmente io ve riccomando Alberto, che voi il faciati imparare; perché il vi seria gran carco e gran peccato, se lo lassasti perdere il suo tempo. HIERONYMUS Savonarola filius vester. (Fuori) Nobili et egregio viro Nicolao Savonarolae parenti optimo. Ferrariae,
I beg you, then, my dear father, to put an end to your weeping, and not to give me more sadness and more sorrow than I already have; not sorrow for what I have done, for I would certainly not undo it even if I believed I would become greater than Caesar ever was; but because I too am flesh like you, and sensuality fights against reason, so that I must fight fiercely lest the devil leap upon my shoulders; and all the more, the more I hear of your grief. These days, while the hurt is fresh, will soon pass, and afterwards I hope that you and I will be consoled in this world by grace, and then in the next by glory. Nothing remains except that I beg you, as a manly man, to comfort my mother, and I beg her together with you to give me your blessing; and I shall always pray fervently for your souls. From Bologna, the 5th day of April 1475. I commend to you all my brothers and sisters, but especially I commend to you Alberto, that you have him taught; for it would be a great burden and a great sin for you if you let him waste his time. Hieronymus Savonarola, your son. (On the outside) To the noble and distinguished man Niccolò Savonarola, his most excellent father. Ferrara.
Notes and citation
Summary: He asks his father to stop weeping, to comfort his mother, to send him their blessing, and to see that his brother Alberto is educated.
- The printed date reads “die v aprilis” (5 April), but the letter is dated 25 April 1475 in the work's heading; the numeral may be damaged in the OCR or the edition, so the printed reading is translated as it stands.
- “The more I hear of your grief” renders “quanto io sento di voi” (the more I hear of you) by sense.
- “Io noi revocarla” is read as “io nol revocaria” (I would not revoke it), an OCR slip translated by sense.
- The date, signature and address are in Latin.
Notes on the original text
- Printed text read “Yi prego”; corrected to “Vi prego” (OCR slip).
- Printed text read “fiine”; corrected to “fine” (OCR slip).
- Printed text read “a;prilis”; corrected to “aprilis” (OCR slip).
- Printed text read “tempo»”; corrected to “tempo.” (OCR slip).
- Printed text read “carco e e gran”; corrected to “carco e gran” (doubled word in the OCR).
Cite (SBL): Savonarola, Ep. patr. §4 (Villari and Casanova, Scelta (1898), pp. 421–422; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/savonarola/letter-to-his-father-1475/#p-4).
Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-10-27