Alphonsus de Castro

Friar Minor and theologian, b. in 1495 at Zamora, Leon, Spain; d. 11 February 1558, at Brussels

Friar Minor

and

theologian

, b. in 1495 at

Zamora

,

Leon

,

Spain

; d. 11 February 1558, at

Brussels

. When fifteen years old he entered a little

convent

of the

Franciscan Order

near Salamanca in the province of St. James. He taught

theology

at the

University of Salamanca

, and for forty-three years was confessor to

Charles V

and Philip II, and preacher at the Court of

Spain

. In 1545 he accompanied Cardinal Grennis as

theologian

to the

Council of Trent

, and during the fourth session took an important part in the discussion concerning

Holy Scripture

. As representative of the

cardinal

he subscribed to the canons of this session, and suggested that the words "praeter hos sacros libros multa alia sunt tenenda quae scripta non sunt, sed observantur Ecclesiae auctoritate" be added to the

Decree

"De Canonicis Scriptures". In succeeding sessions he addressed the council on the advisability of vernacular versions of the

Sacred Scripture

, and on

original sin

. He accompanied Philip II to

England

, returned with that monarch to the Continent in 1557, and was appointed to the

archiepiscopal See of Compostella

, made

vacant

by the death of Cardinal John Tolenton. His untimely death, however, prevented his

consecration

. Castro's best-known works include (1) "Adversus omnes haereses", first published at Cologne in 1539; (2) "De justa haereticorum punitione" (Salamanca, 1547). Both these works were published in one edition at

Paris

(1571-78).