We live in a world surrounded by genius, mechanical marvels. While we often take most of these inventions for granted (such as shoelaces and electric kettles), we owe much of the comforts, conveniences, and essentials in our daily lives to the brilliant minds who conceptualized them.
But did you know that there are many Catholics who were key players in the innovative world? From the precursor to a household item, to a breakthrough in theatrical engineering, to a life-saving garment, Catholics throughout history show that faith and science go hand-in-hand — leading to some of the most useful and awe-inspiring inventions we still rely on today.
The first mechanical clock
Before he became pope, Sylvester II was first known as Gerbert of Aurillac. Born in 946 A.D., Gerbert was an intelligent boy, though a poor one. While he tended his sheep, he would watch the stars and their courses — a passion that foreshadowed his timely invention.
After catching the attention of a local priest, Gerbert was able to attain a formal education where he grew in knowledge in topics such as foreign languages, mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy.
Around 996, Gerbert funneled his many talents into developing time-keeping devices, and today is credited by some with the invention of the first mechanical clock. Prior to this invention, people utilized other time-keeping methods, such as sun dials and hourglasses. While the mechanical clock didn’t immediately gain traction due to its maintenance and inaccuracies, it eventually proved to be an indispensable tool, especially in monasteries and churches that emphasized punctual prayer and work schedules. Later, between 1588-1602, Galileo Galilei (another Catholic) would study the physics of the pendulum, contributing to the invention of the more accurate pendulum clock by the Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens.
Gerbert became the first Frenchman to be elected pope in 999, taking the name Sylvester II. As a lifelong scholar, he attempted to bridge the studies of the East and the West, promoting Arabic sciences. He died in 1003.
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The trapdoor
All the world’s a stage, and the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) were stars on the European theatrical stage in the 16th century.
By the mid-16th century, theater productions were spreading like wildfire at Jesuit schools all around Europe. The Jesuits believed that theater was the perfect method to teach moral and religious lessons. In order for their audiences to receive these messages, the Jesuits knew they had to create quality productions.
In addition to founding hundreds of missions and leading thousands to Christ, the Jesuits also quickly gained fame for their theatrical techniques and special effects. Some sources even credit a 17th century Jesuit with inventing the modern trapdoor. The Jesuits popularized and perfected the method, as seen in their extensive use and documentation of this and other special effects in theater, such as the scrim, a thin piece of curtain to create silhouettes or create the special effect of disappearing. The Jesuits were also known for utilizing effects to simulate people flying and storms, even going so far as to depict on stage the crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites!
The Jesuits deserve recognition for their contributions to special effects in modern theater. The trapdoor, in particular, is still an effective method used today in many famous Broadway productions, such as “Wicked” and “Hadestown.”
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The bulletproof vest
Police officers and detectives will don a bulletproof vest to protect them from any danger they may encounter on the job, and they have a Polish Catholic priest to thank for that!
In 1893, the assassination of the Chicago mayor shook Fr. Casimir Zeglen to the core. This particular event prompted Fr. Zeglen into action. How could he stand by while such violence threatened public leaders?
Fr. Zeglen set to work putting together a garment that would protect the wearer from a fatal wound via bullet. He tried a number of different materials before stumbling on a fascinating study. Twelve years prior, a doctor named George E. Goodfellow found via autopsy that his shot victim’s silk handkerchief slowed, or perhaps even stopped, one of the bullets. The doctor had even attempted to create his own rudimentary vest. While his vest, using layers of silk, was not fully effective, it laid the foundation for Fr. Zeglen to perfect this prototype into something life-saving.
On Mar. 16, 1897, Fr. Zeglen’s hard work paid off. A nearby assistant fired at Fr. Zeglen right in the chest, and while it caused him intense shock and pain, his silk bulletproof vest worked. Unfortunately, Fr. Zeglen was unsuccessful in finding American investors to help him mass produce this life-saving invention. He sailed to Europe, where he met fellow inventor Jan Szczepanik. Szczepanik would help Zeglen perfect the invention and make it available for mass production, but only those who were rich could afford it.
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Additionally, the invention of this life-saving device was not without its drama. While Zeglen created the first vest, Szczepanik perfected and adjusted the design so much that it became a new product. As a result, Szczepanik received much of the credit for the invention, undercutting Zeglen’s initial contributions to the design.
To his credit, it is because of Szczepanik that the vest became so widely known that kings purchased it for themselves. It even saved the life of Spanish King Alfonso XIII in an assasination attempt.
However, the bulletproof vest finds its origin in the hands of a Polish priest who lived in Chicago and searched for a way to save the lives of his American flock. It begs the question: If it weren’t for Fr. Zeglen’s research, tireless efforts, and brave test trials, would we have this life-saving invention today?
Without these and many other contributions and inventions, our modern world would look quite different! So, let us thank God for the genius and wisdom he bestowed upon these brilliant minds who have made such major contributions to our society.
