Why were Girolamo Savonarola’s early sermons in Florence unsuccessful?

Girolamo Savonarola’s early sermons in Florence were initially unsuccessful because he had not yet discovered the prophetic style that would later define his ministry and capture the public's attention. During his first period in the city (1482–1485), his preaching failed to gain significant traction until he experienced a sudden revelation that inspired him to begin delivering prophetic messages.1

Before this shift, his sermons were described as conventional, focusing on warnings of divine punishment for sinners. It was only after he adopted his famous prophetic propositions—declaring that the church required reform and would be scourged and renewed—that his influence and reputation for learning and asceticism began to grow, eventually leading to his immense authority in Florence.21