Galileo Galilei (1564-1642). Galileo was the famous Italian astronomer who conceived the idea for the isochronous pendulum. He invented the sector-compass and made the first practical telescope. Galileo discovered the four bright moons of Jupiter and discovered the famous Law of Falling Bodies. Galileo, the first mathematician at the University of Pisa declared:

“I am inclined to think that the authority of Holy Scripture is intended to convince men of those truths which are necessary for their salvation, which, being far above man’s understanding, can not be made credible by any learning, or any other means than revelation by the Holy Spirit.”

Galileo wrote in a letter,

“I send you a rose, which ought to please you extremely, seeing what a rarity it is at this season. And with the rose you must accept its thorns, which represent the bitter suffering of our Lord, while the green leaves represent the hope we may entertain, that through the same sacred passion we, having passed through the darkness of this short winter of our mortal life, may attain to the brightness and felicity of an eternal spring in Heaven.”