Robert Bellarmine, Saint and Scholar

by James Brodrick

430 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1928

About the author

Father James Patrick Brodrick, SJ

Reviews

[Jan Kubiznak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mimořádně zajímavá a faktograficky bohatá biografie sv. Roberta Bellarmina (české vydání s předmluvou kard. Špidlíka). Autor cituje veliké množství dobových pramenů a uvádí užitečné historické souvislosti přelomu 16. a 17. století.

Dlouhá kapitola, která rozebírá proces s Galileem trochu vybočuje, možná by stála za další samostatnou publikaci. Sv. Robert jakoby ustupuje do pozadí, ale pokud by se někdo chtěl dozvědět okolnosti Galileova inkvizičního procesu neváhal bych ji doporučit.

"Je smutným a ubohým kazatelem evangelia, kdo hledá pouze svou slávu a nikoli oslavu Boha, a kdo touží po tom, aby ho lidé měli rádi a chválili ho, místo aby zaměřoval všechny své síly na to, aby milovali a chválili Boha."

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

This authoritative biography of Saint Robert Bellarmine was very thorough and extensive. The wealth of details and its chronological organization made it a slow read at times, not least because of my unfamiliarity with many of the characters of the 17th century. The controversial chapters were most interesting, especially the two on Galileo which cast much light on that sad chapter in church history.
The most memorable characteristics of St. Robert to me were his unbounded generosity (he died owning nothing) and his charity towards all, especially in an age where polemics were even more popular than today, if you can believe it! He always used a kind, generous answer which gave not only the benefit of the doubt but the best possible interpretation of someone's words or actions.

[Nathaniel nSJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The poor! Salvation comes from the poor, and that which we do not need, is not ours. And ours is the Father, ours is the Son, and ours is the Holy Spirit, Amen.