Spreading scientific study has never been an extravagance in the religious world, traditionally turned mainly to philosophical and theological studies, humanities in general. History provides illustrious examples of dominicans, barnabas, jesuits, minors, scolopi, somaschi, teatina etc. whose merits are often mentioned in the texts of the history of science. During the last century, essays and pamphlets were scattered, celebrating the contributions of the church to progress and propagation of science. These pages have no other claim than to highlight, within the scientific culture of the people in the church of Italy, the traces of one of their special components: the monks.

Keywords: science, history of science, monasticism, astronomy

MAURO MAZZUCOTELLI