Recantation of Galileo (June 22, 1633)
HS / Science
Conformity, Truth, Principle, Punishment
During the week prior to the seminar, have a three dimensional model of the solar
system on display in the classroom. Also, display a chart that shows scientific
discoveries or changes in thinking such as the phlogiston theory; Pluto’s demotion from
a planet; names of dwarf planets in the Kuiper belt; gravity waves; the existence of
water on Mars. Include, if possible, some discoveries and ideas that are so current that
they are new to your students. Have students choose one new discovery or idea that is
accepted today (eg. using motor vehicles over horse drawn wagons.) Ask students to
rank the importance of these discoveries, or describe one new discovery and how it has
changed our lives today. Discuss how this new discovery might have caused some
people to not be in favor of it; and what it took to win over most of the public to this new
discovery or idea.
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Distribute the text of Galileo’s Recantation. Anticipate what it will be like. Ask students to
locate the sentence-ending punctuation (circle the periods) and number the sentences
(there are seven) as you read it aloud slowly and deliberately.
The complete documents of the Papal Condemnation (conviction) and Galileo’s
Recantation are located at:
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/galileo/recantation.html
Share as appropriate: New discoveries in science often call for changes in our
understanding of how the world operates. The hypothesis of Copernicus that the sun
and not the earth was the center of the universe won general acceptance only when it
was verified by observation and formulated in terms of scientific law. The work of
Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) furthered the acceptance of Copernican ideas and added a
great deal of new knowledge. Galileo’s work demonstrated that many accepted notions
were wrong.
Galileo made a telescope and used it to prove his assertion that there was no difference
between heavenly bodies and the earth. Although some of his opponents refused to
look through his telescope, he was able to prove that the moon had a rough surface like
that of the earth and the surface of the sun was not perfect but covered with “spots.” He
noticed that Jupiter had a number of satellite moons and looked like a miniature solar
system. He proved that all bodies, in the absence of air friction, fall at the same speed
regardless of weight, thus discrediting a long accepted notion.
His ideas on the nature of the universe got him into trouble with the Inquisition, first in
1615, and again in 1633. In 1633, Galileo, old and sick, was frightened by the threat of
torture into signing a complete recantation of his work.
Together with students, read The Conviction as background to the Recantation.
from The Conviction
Whereas you, Galileo, son of the late Vincenzo Galilei, Florentine, aged seventy years,
were in the year 1615 denounced to this Holy Office for holding as true the false
doctrine taught by some that the Sun is the center of the world and immovable and that
the Earth moves, and also with a diurnal motion; for having disciples to whom you
taught the same doctrine; for holding correspondence with certain mathematicians of
Germany concerning the same; for having printed certain letters, entitled "On the
Sunspots," wherein you developed the same doctrine as true.The proposition that the
Sun is the center of the world and does not move from its place is absurd and false
philosophically and formally heretical, because it is expressly contrary to Holy Scripture.
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The proposition that the Earth is not the center of the world and immovable but that it
moves, and also with a diurnal motion, is equally absurd and false philosophically and
theologically considered at least erroneous in faith. . . Therefore by our order you were
cited before this Holy office, where, being examined upon our oath, you acknowledged
the book to be written and published by you. And whereas it appeared to us that you
had not stated the full truth with regard to your intention, we thought it necessary to
subject you to a rigorous examination at which (without prejudice, however, to the
matters confessed by you and set forth as above with regard to your said intention) you
answered like a good Catholic. Therefore, having seen and maturely considered the
merits of this your cause, together with your confessions and excuses abovementioned, and all that ought justly to be seen and considered, we have arrived at the
underwritten final sentence against you:
Invoking, therefore, the most holy name of our Lord Jesus Christ and of His most
glorious Mother, ever Virgin Mary. . . We say, pronounce, sentence, and declare that
you, the said Galileo, by reason of the matters adduced in trial, and by you confessed
as above, have rendered yourself in the judgment of this Holy Office vehemently
suspected of heresy, namely, of having believed and held the doctrine. . . that the Sun
is the center of the world and does not move from east to west and that the Earth
moves and is not the center of the world; and that an opinion may be held and defended
as probably after it has been declared and defined to be contrary to the Holy Scripture;
and that consequently you have incurred all the censures and penalties imposed. . . in
the sacred canons. From which we are content that you be absolved, provided that,
first, with a sincere heart and unfeigned faith, you abjure, curse, and detest before use
the aforesaid errors and heresies and every other error and heresy contrary to the
Catholic and Apostolic Roman Church in the form to be prescribed by us for you.
And in order that this your grave and pernicious error and transgression may not
remain altogether unpunished and that you may be more cautious in the future and an
example to others that they may abstain from similar delinquencies, we ordain that the
book of the “Dialogues of Galileo Galilei” be prohibited by public edict.
We condemn you to the formal prison of this Holy office during our pleasure, and by
way of salutary penance we enjoin that for three years to come you repeat once a week
at the seven penitential Psalms. Reserving to ourselves liberty to moderate, commute or
take off, in whole or in part, the aforesaid penalties and penance.
And so we say, pronounce, sentence, declare, ordain, and reserve in this and in any
other better way and form which we can and may rightfully employ.
[Signed:]
F. Cardinal of Ascoli
B. Cardinal Gessi
G. Cardinal Bentivoglio
F. Cardinal Verospi
Fr. D. Cardinal of Cremona
M. Cardinal Ginetti
Fr. Ant. s Cardinal of. S. Onofrio
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[Three judges did not sign the sentence: Francesco Barberini, Caspar Borgia, and
Laudivio Zacchia.]
Read the text from Galileo’s Recantation aloud again, and ask students to identify any
words with which they are unfamiliar. Provide brief word meanings for students to note
in the margin near these words in the text. Be certain to include intimidated, adduce,
cogency, contravening.
Divide the class into seven groups and randomly assign one sentence to each group.
Allow time for each group to compose a sentence, paraphrasing their sentence from the
recantation in modern English. Share the resulting sentences aloud while all participants
take notes on their copies of the text.
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 What one word or phrase from the text of the Recantation would you
choose to characterize the text? (Allow time for participants to locate and
mark the word or phrase they’d choose, then contribute as a round-robin
response)
 Why did you choose that word or phrase? (spontaneous discussion)
 What were the goals of the people who composed the Recantation of
Galileo? What evidence do you see of this in the text?
 What strategies did they use to achieve this goal? Refer to the text.
 Based on the text, what is it about Galileo or his theories that frightened
the priests of the inquisition, causing their insistence that Galileo sign a
recantation?
 What rhetorical mistakes did the priests make, if any, in composing this
recantation?
 Do you think that Galileo should be held responsible for the message
contained in this recantation? Why or why not
 Based on this text and out discussion, what is the truth and how do we, as
human beings, know the truth?
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Students imagine Galileo speaking the Recantation written by the priests of the
Inquisition, and imagine the thoughts that may have been circling in his mind as he
spoke. Make notes about that inner monologue.
Following our seminar discussion, write an essay in which you compare the truth that
Galileo told with his telescope (and how he arrived at this truth) and the truth that the
authors of the recantation told through their document (and how they arrived at this
truth); and argue which is more true. Support your position with evidence from the text.
(LDC Task#: 4 )
Have participants talk in pairs for a few minutes to share thoughts about what the writing
task is asking and how they might respond.
Have students plan an outline for their paragraphs, and select references from the
original text to use in support of their points.
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Challenge students to write their paragraphs according to their outlines. Students
should refer to the text to illustrate their point of view.
Participants work in pairs to reach each other’s first draft. Point out a part that was
clearly stated to the partner. Then the partner does the same in return. Allow time for full
revisions. The finished revision is the second draft.
Once the second draft is complete, have participants work in groups of three-four and
this time take turns reading each other’s writing slowly and silently, marking any spelling
or grammar errors they find. (Have dictionaries and grammar handbooks available for
reference.) Take this opportunity to clarify/reteach any specific grammar strategies you
have identified your students needing. Give time for full revisions resulting in a third and
final draft.
Publish the final copies of the resulting written products in a collection to be shared on
the class web site and as examples for future students.
Steve Houser, Jr.
Providence Spring Elementary (Retired)
Text:
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/galileo/recantation.html
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from The Recantation
I, Galileo, son of the late Vincenzo Galilei, Florentine, aged seventy years, arraigned
personally before this tribunal, and kneeling before you, Most Eminent and Reverend
Lord Cardinals, Inquisitors-General against heretical depravity throughout the entire
Christian commonwealth, having before my eyes and touching with my hands, the Holy
Gospels, swear that I have always believed, do believe, and by God's help will in the
future believe, all that is held, preached, and taught by the Holy Catholic and Apostolic
Church. But whereas -- after an injunction had been judicially intimated to me by this
Holy Office, to the effect that I must altogether abandon the false opinion that the sun is
the center of the world and immovable, and that the earth is not the center of the world,
and moves, and that I must not hold, defend, or teach in any way whatsoever, verbally
or in writing, the said false doctrine, and after it had been notified to me that the said
doctrine was contrary to Holy Scripture -- I wrote and printed a book in which I discuss
this new doctrine already condemned, and adduce arguments of great cogency in its
favor, without presenting any solution of these, and for this reason I have been
pronounced by the Holy Office to be vehemently suspected of heresy, that is to say, of
having held and believed that the Sun is the center of the world and immovable, and
that the earth is not the center and moves:
Therefore, desiring to remove from the minds of your Eminences, and of all faithful
Christians, this vehement suspicion, justly conceived against me, with sincere heart and
unfeigned faith I abjure, curse, and detest the aforesaid errors and heresies, and
generally every other error, heresy, and sect whatsoever contrary to the said Holy
Church, and I swear that in the future I will never again say or assert, verbally or in
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writing, anything that might furnish occasion for a similar suspicion regarding me; but
that should I know any heretic, or person suspected of heresy, I will denounce him to
this Holy Office, or to the Inquisitor or Ordinary of the place where I may be. Further, I
swear and promise to fulfill and observe in their integrity all penances that have been, or
that shall be, imposed upon me by this Holy Office. And, in the event of my
contravening, (which God forbid) any of these my promises and oaths, I submit myself
to all the pains and penalties imposed and promulgated in the sacred canons and other
constitutions, general and particular, against such delinquents. So help me God, and
these His Holy Gospels, which I touch with my hands.
I, the said Galileo Galilei, have abjured, sworn, promised, and bound myself as above;
and in witness of the truth thereof I have with my own hand subscribed the present
document of my abjuration, and recited it word for word at Rome, in the Convent of
Minerva, this twenty-second day of June, 1633.
I, Galileo Galilei, have abjured as above with my own hand.
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