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"UNUSUALLY RARE BIOGRAPHY OF A SPANISH JESUIT MIRACLE-PREACHER . 4to. (24), 232 pp. Bound in contemporary vellum with remains of calligraphed title on spine. Endpapers renewed, but volume apparently not re-cased. Pages 218-225 rather soiled and dampstained, but perfectly legible and structurally sound; otherwise a very good copy. Early manuscript ownership inscription of Canon José Michaelis Perez y Martinez on title-page. With a handful of early manuscript corrections throughout the text. Third recorded copy of the sole edition of this Jesuit biography brought to the press just two years after the death of its subject, the Aragonese missionary and preacher José Martinez (1652-1702). OCLC shows just two other copies in institutional libraries worldwide, at the National Libraries of Spain and Chile; this seems unusually rare for this kind of publication, but there is no ostensible reason why it should have enjoyed such a poor survival (there is no record of its having been placed on the Index, for example). Martinez was born in the village of Villaroya, Calatayud, and by means of various signs it was made clear that, at the age of 18, he was ready to enter the Society of Jesus (Chapters IV-VIII, pp. 20-49). Beginning his training at the Jesuit College in Calatayud (founded 1584), he pursued a perhaps typically rigorous educational training including classes on Philosophy, Letras Humanas , Grammar, and Theology, studying also in Graus and Huesca. He was finally professed as a full Jesuit only at the age of 35, and enjoyed particular renown for his preaching: he was said to have composed more than 1500 sermons (p. 2) and his method of delivery was considered a "dono sobrenaturale" (p. 78). Father Martinez expired at the age of 50, having been on occasion plagued by the Devil (pp. 97-100); the last section of the text, Book IV , is dedicated to the favors, graces, and miracles bestowed upon him by God including mysterious visions of souls in Purgatory (pp. 210-213). As far as we can tell, no further effort was made to promote his beatification. * Palau 176764; De Backer / Sommervogel V, 1222-3.". Seller Inventory # D0275
Bibliographic Details
Title: Vida Apostolica, Virtudes, y Maravillas de ...
Publisher: Zaragoza, Diego de Larumbe
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