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Living the
Meet Catholic Scientists!
GOSPEL If you’ve ever looked
scientists and doctors have been helping us understand God’s Creation and developing technology that helps us in our everyday lives. Meet a few Catholic scientists from a variety of fields, then
see how much you remember by completing the crossword. Who knows, maybe someday you’ll be a famous Catholic scientist yourself!
through a telescope, used
a calculator, or watched your doctor listen to your heart with a stethoscope, you can thank a Catholic. Throughout history, faithful Catholic
Astronomy
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543)
My theory that the earth revolves around the sun was controversial, but it helped bring about the Scientific Revolution and the field of modern science.
Galileo Galilei (1564–1642)
I am known as the founder of modern astronomy. I discovered the Milky Way, Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s moons, and sunspots. I once wrote, “I give infinite thanks to God, who has been pleased to make me the first observer of marvelous things.”
Georges Lemaître (1894–1966)
I was a Catholic priest, physicist, mathematician, and astronomer. Some scientists made fun of my model of the beginning of the universe, but later on, they accepted it. You might know it as the Big Bang Theory.
Agnes Mary Clerke (1842–1907)
As a teen, I studied the stars with my dad’s telescope and went on to become an astronomer. A lifelong Catholic, I wrote “A Popular History of Astronomy.” A moon crater is named for me.
6 • Venture Ascension of the Lord
Math and Computer Science
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)
A famous computer programming language, PASCAL, is named
for me. I developed the
probability theory, which you have probably learned about in math class.
Euphemia Lofton Haynes(1890–1980)
I was the first Black American to earn a Ph.D. in math. I spent my life educating and advocating for the poor. Pope John XXIII honored me with the Papal Medal in 1959.
Physics and General Sciences
Saint Albert the Great (1193–1280)
I am the patron saint of scientists. I studied and wrote about botany, zoology, minerology, and geography.
Alessandro Volta (1745–1827)
I invented the first battery. I was constantly giving thanks to God for my faith and my life.
James Macelwane, S.J. (1883–1956)
I was a Jesuit priest and scientist interested in the study of earthquakes (seismology).
I taught and encouraged the scientists who would eventually develop modern earthquake measuring equipment.
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