Catholic priest "first proposed the Big Bang Theory for the birth of the universe"

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Adapted from this original source: "This Rock" magazine September 2008. Matthew E. Bunson, Fathers of Science.

"Georges Lemaître (1894 - 1966)


"Fr. Georges Lemaître, a Belgian priest, physicist and mathematician, first proposed the Big Bang Theory for the birth of the universe.

"Born in Charleroi, Belgium, he studied math and science at Cambridge University after ordination in 1923 and specialized in the then - most - current studies in astronomy and cosmology, especially Einstein's general theory of relativity.

"The accepted idea in physics at the time was that the universe was essentially in a changeless state -- a Steady State."

A priest challenges Einstein!!


"Where Einstein saw that the universe was actually moving --either shrinking or expanding -- and devised the the cosmological constant that maintained the stability of [the] universe, Lemaître concluded that the universe was expanding.

"Not only that, Lemaítre proposed that from this it could be concluded that all matter and energy were concentrated at one point.

"Hence:

"The universe had a beginning.

"This theory, at first met with great skepticism, was termed rather sarcasticlaly as the Big Bang.


a day without yesterday...


"For his part, Lemaître elegantly described this beginning as a day without yesterday.

"He presented his theory in January 1933 to a gathering of scientists in California, and at the end of his presentation, Einstein applauded and declared,

This is the most beautiful and satisfactory explanation of creation to which I have ever listened.

"Lemaître's ideas subsequently gained ground.

"Today, astrophysicists readily accept the Big Bang and the continuing expansion of the universe.

"For his labors, Lemaître was made a member of the Royal Academy of Belgium and a canon of the cathedral of Malines.

"In 1936, Pope Pius XI inducted him into the Pontifical Academy of Science..."