Tommaso Caccini

Tommaso Caccini (1574–1648) was an Italian Dominican friar and preacher.

Born in Florence as Cosimo Caccini, he entered into the Dominican order of the Catholic Church as a teenager. Caccini began his career in the monastery of San Marco and gradually became renowned for his passionate sermons. He frequently preached at the Church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, which would later be the site of his most famous sermon. Some historians, however, speculate that the motives behind Caccini’s sermons were questionable because “his fanaticism was never divorced from personal ambition for advancement within the Dominican order.” Perhaps one indication of Caccini’s desire for success is reflected by his decision to be named as “Tommaso,” which is thought to be in honor of Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas was best known for his views on theology and philosophy, and he often discussed the effects of philosophy on Church doctrine. Historical accounts suggest that unlike his namesake, Father Caccini was hardly interested in balancing theology with philosophical ideals. In fact, Caccini’s highly controversial sermons, which often vilified critics of Church doctrine, eventually resulted in discipline by the Archbishop of Bologna.