Benedict Sestini
Encyclopedia
Benedict Sestini was a Jesuit astronomer, mathematician and architect, who worked in Italy and the US.
in Rome on 30 Oct., 1836, and studied at the Roman College where he followed the courses of Father Vincent Caraffa, the professor of mathematics; he was appointed assistant to Father De Vico
, director of the Vatican Observatory
. He was ordained in 1844, and filled the chair of higher mathematics at the Roman College, when the Revolution of 1848 caused his precipitate flight from Rome; coming to America he lived at Georgetown College
, except for a few years, until 1869. He was stationed at Woodstock, Maryland
, at the opening of the scholasticate, and remained there until 1884. He founded the American Messenger of the Sacred Heart in 1866, and retained editorial control of it until 1885; during these years he was also head director of the Apostleship of Prayer
in the United States. He had many difficulties to contend with in launching and sustaining the "Messenger", and in directing the League of the Sacred Heart. He was also the architect of St. Aloysius Church, Washington, DC
. On account of failing health, he was transferred in 1885 to the novitiate
, Frederick, Maryland, where paralysis terminated his career. It was said of him that he had two passions---one for pure mathematics, and the other for the Catholic religion.
to 30 degrees south
of the Equator
.
At Georgetown Observatory
, in 1850, Sestini made a series of sunspot
drawings, which were engraved and published (44 plates) as "Appendix A" of the Naval Observatory
volume for 1847, printed in 1853. His last scientific work as an astronomer was the observation of the total eclipse of July 29, 1878, in Denver, Colorado
. A sketch of the corona as it appeared to him was published in the Catholic Quarterly Review. From his arrival at Georgetown (1848) until his retirement from Woodstock (1884) he had been almost constantly engaged in teaching mathematics to the Jesuit scholastics, and he published a series of textbooks on algebra, geometry and trigonometry, analytical geometry, and calculus
. He wrote treatises on natural science for the use of his pupils; some of these were lithographed and others were privately printed at Woodstock: Theoretical Mechanics in 1873; Animal Physics in 1874; Principles of Cosmography in 1878.
Career
He entered the Society of JesusSociety of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
in Rome on 30 Oct., 1836, and studied at the Roman College where he followed the courses of Father Vincent Caraffa, the professor of mathematics; he was appointed assistant to Father De Vico
Francesco de Vico
Father Francesco de Vico was an Italian astronomer at Vatican Observatory, and also a Jesuit priest. His name is also written De Vico and even DeVico....
, director of the Vatican Observatory
Vatican Observatory
The Vatican Observatory is an astronomical research and educational institution supported by the Holy See. Originally based in Rome, it now has headquarters and laboratory at the summer residence of the Pope in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, and an observatory at the Mount Graham International...
. He was ordained in 1844, and filled the chair of higher mathematics at the Roman College, when the Revolution of 1848 caused his precipitate flight from Rome; coming to America he lived at Georgetown College
Georgetown College (Georgetown University)
Georgetown College, infrequently Georgetown College of Arts and Sciences, is the oldest school within Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The College is the largest undergraduate school at Georgetown, and until the founding of the Medical School in 1850, was the only higher education division...
, except for a few years, until 1869. He was stationed at Woodstock, Maryland
Woodstock, Maryland
Woodstock is an unincorporated community which is a suburb of Baltimore, Maryland. The original village of Woodstock is located in Howard County, but the surrounding area includes portions of Baltimore County and Carroll County.- Demographics :...
, at the opening of the scholasticate, and remained there until 1884. He founded the American Messenger of the Sacred Heart in 1866, and retained editorial control of it until 1885; during these years he was also head director of the Apostleship of Prayer
Apostleship of Prayer
The Apostleship of Prayer is a group of Catholic adherents who, through the Daily Offering, unite themselves with the Eucharistic Sacrifice in which the work of our redemption is continuously accomplished. By this vital bond with Christ, they cooperate in the salvation of the world itself...
in the United States. He had many difficulties to contend with in launching and sustaining the "Messenger", and in directing the League of the Sacred Heart. He was also the architect of St. Aloysius Church, Washington, DC
St. Aloysius Church, Washington, DC
St. Aloysius Church is a Roman Catholic parish church at 19 I Street in the Near Northeast neighborhood of Washington, D. C.. It is administered by the Jesuits since its founding and is named for St. Aloysius Gonzaga. It is often associated with Gonzaga College High School, with which it is...
. On account of failing health, he was transferred in 1885 to the novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
, Frederick, Maryland, where paralysis terminated his career. It was said of him that he had two passions---one for pure mathematics, and the other for the Catholic religion.
Published work
In astronomy, his work includes Catalogue of Star-Colors, published in his Memoirs of the Roman College, 1845 and 1847. The second memoir includes the first, and forms the entire catalogue, except the twelve celestial charts that accompanied the first. The Revolution broke out in Rome when the second memoir was in the printer's hands, and prevented the completion of the work. The colour catalogue is the first general review of the heavens for star-colours, from the North PoleNorth Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
to 30 degrees south
30th parallel south
The 30th parallel south is a circle of latitude that is 30 degrees south of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Australasia, the Pacific Ocean and South America....
of the Equator
Equator
An equator is the intersection of a sphere's surface with the plane perpendicular to the sphere's axis of rotation and containing the sphere's center of mass....
.
At Georgetown Observatory
Georgetown University Astronomical Observatory
The Georgetown University Astronomical Observatory was founded in 1841 by Father James Curley of the Department of Physics at Georgetown College. Father Curley chose a site on the College grounds, planned the building and supervised its construction to its completion in 1844. Costs were initially...
, in 1850, Sestini made a series of sunspot
Sunspot
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the photosphere of the Sun that appear visibly as dark spots compared to surrounding regions. They are caused by intense magnetic activity, which inhibits convection by an effect comparable to the eddy current brake, forming areas of reduced surface temperature....
drawings, which were engraved and published (44 plates) as "Appendix A" of the Naval Observatory
United States Naval Observatory
The United States Naval Observatory is one of the oldest scientific agencies in the United States, with a primary mission to produce Positioning, Navigation, and Timing for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Department of Defense...
volume for 1847, printed in 1853. His last scientific work as an astronomer was the observation of the total eclipse of July 29, 1878, in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. A sketch of the corona as it appeared to him was published in the Catholic Quarterly Review. From his arrival at Georgetown (1848) until his retirement from Woodstock (1884) he had been almost constantly engaged in teaching mathematics to the Jesuit scholastics, and he published a series of textbooks on algebra, geometry and trigonometry, analytical geometry, and calculus
Calculus
Calculus is a branch of mathematics focused on limits, functions, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series. This subject constitutes a major part of modern mathematics education. It has two major branches, differential calculus and integral calculus, which are related by the fundamental theorem...
. He wrote treatises on natural science for the use of his pupils; some of these were lithographed and others were privately printed at Woodstock: Theoretical Mechanics in 1873; Animal Physics in 1874; Principles of Cosmography in 1878.