John de Lugo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence John de Lugo |
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John de Lugo
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| Diocese | Diocese of Rome |
| Appointed | 17 October 1644 |
| Reign ended | 20 August 1660 |
| Orders | |
| Created Cardinal | 13 July 1643 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest of Santo Stefano al Monte Celio |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 25, 1583 Madrid, Spain |
| Died | 20 August 1660 (aged 76) Rome, Papal States |
| Buried | Sant'Andrea al Quirinale |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Parents | Juan de Lugo Teresa de Pisa y Quiroga |
| Alma mater | University of Salamanca |
John de Lugo (also known as Juan de Lugo y de Quiroga) was an important Spanish Jesuit priest and a high-ranking church official called a Cardinal. He lived from 1583 to 1660 and was a very respected thinker and writer on religious topics during the Baroque period.
Contents
John de Lugo's Early Life and Education
John de Lugo was born in November 1583 in Madrid, Spain. Even though he was born in Madrid, he often called himself a "Hispalensis" because his family came from Seville. Both his father, also named Juan de Lugo, and his mother, Teresa de Quiroga, came from noble families.
John was very smart from a young age.
- At three years old, he could read books.
- At ten, he received the tonsure, which was a ceremony showing he was starting his journey in the church.
- At fourteen, he publicly defended a paper on logic.
- Around the same time, King Philip II of Spain gave him a church position that provided income. He kept this position until he became a priest in 1618.
Like his older brother, Francis, John was sent to the University of Salamanca to study law. However, Francis joined the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits, and became a famous religious scholar. John wanted to follow his brother. He asked his father twice for permission to join the Jesuits, but his father said no. Despite this, John joined the order anyway in 1603.
After finishing his studies, John de Lugo became a professor of philosophy in Medina del Campo in 1611. Later, he taught theology (the study of religious faith) at Valladolid for five years. His excellent teaching made him well-known. The leader of the Jesuits, Muzio Vitelleschi, heard about him and asked de Lugo to come to Rome. He arrived in Rome in June 1621.
Becoming a Cardinal
People say that John de Lugo's lectures were so good that copies were made and shared in other countries, even before they were printed as books. The Jesuit leader asked him to print his works. John worked hard and prepared the material for his first three books within five years (1633, 1636, 1638).
When his fourth book, De justitia et jure (which means "On Justice and Law"), was almost ready, his superiors thought he should dedicate it to Pope Urban VIII. John had to present the book to the Pope himself. The Pope was so impressed by John's knowledge that he often asked for his advice. In 1643, Pope Urban VIII made John de Lugo a Cardinal.
John de Lugo was not eager to become a Cardinal. He even called the fancy carriage sent by the Barberini family (a powerful family connected to the Pope) to take him to the Pope's palace his "hearse" (a vehicle for carrying a coffin). Becoming a Cardinal meant he had to stop teaching. However, he still published several more books after 1643.
As a Cardinal, John de Lugo used his knowledge to help the Church. He took part in important meetings, especially those of the Holy Office and the Council in Rome. When Pope Urban VIII died, de Lugo participated in the election of the next Pope in 1644. Many people thought he would vote for the French candidate, Giulio Cesare Sacchetti, because he was connected to the Barberini family, who supported the French.
However, John de Lugo surprised everyone. He announced his support for the Spanish candidate, Giovanni Battista Pamphili. Pamphili was eventually elected and became Pope Innocent X.
John de Lugo passed away in Rome on August 20, 1660, at the age of 77. His fellow Jesuit Cardinal Francesco Sforza Pallavicino, who was one of his most dedicated students, was with him. John de Lugo wanted to be buried near the tomb of the Jesuit founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola. His epitaph (words on his tombstone) says he wanted his heart to rest "where his treasure was."
He was known for being very generous to the poor. Even though he didn't have a large income, he gave them bread, money, and even medicines every day. He was especially known for giving out quinquina, a newly discovered medicine at the time. People in Rome even called it "Lugo's powder" for a while.
John de Lugo's Writings
John de Lugo wrote many books and papers, some of which were never printed. His works covered a wide range of topics in moral theology (how people should act) and dogmatic theology (the main beliefs of the Church).
His first book, De Incarnatione Domini (meaning "On the Incarnation of the Lord"), was published in 1633. This was followed by other important works like:
- De sacramentis in genere (On Sacraments in General)
- De Venerabili Eucharistiæ Sacramento et de sacrosancto Missæ sacrificio (On the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass)
- De Virtute et Sacramento poenitentiæ, de Suffragiis et Indulgentiis (On the Virtue and Sacrament of Penance, on Suffrages and Indulgences)
- De justitia et jure (On Justice and Law), published in 1642. This book was especially famous and is the one he presented to Pope Urban VIII, which helped him become a Cardinal. His knowledge of law from his younger days helped him write this important book.
After his death, two more of his works were published by his former student and friend, Cardinal Francesco Sforza Pallavicino. Another volume, "De Deo, de Angelis, de Actibus humanis et de Gratia" (On God, Angels, Human Actions, and Grace), was published more than 50 years after he died, aiming to complete his printed lectures.
John de Lugo also wrote other works on theology and philosophy, including "De Anima" (On the Soul), "Philosophia" (Philosophy), and "Logica" (Logic). Many of these are still kept as handwritten manuscripts in libraries in places like Madrid and Salamanca.
His complete works were published in several editions over the years, with the last major edition coming out in the late 1800s.
See also
In Spanish: Juan de Lugo y Quiroga para niños
- Schedula Romana
