Book Description

A ground-breaking study that unveils, for the first time, the entirety of a founding Jesuit's theology. Revered as a founder of the Jesuit order, an accomplished preacher, a papal theologian at all three sessions of the Council of Trent, and the provincial of Naples, Alfonso Salmerón was a significant figure in the intellectual life and ecclesiastical affairs of the sixteenth century. His Commentaries represent one of the most ambitious theological-exegetical endeavours of the post-Tridentine period. Fr. Sam Zeno Conedera, SJ, brings long-overdue recognition to a foundational figure and key theologian of the order. Here, presented for the first time, is a detailed overview of Salmerón's writings and theology. It explores the author's creative use of history, his endeavour to integrate Scripture and tradition, and his exposition of the mysteries of the Christian faith. As Conedera shows, Salmerón's approach to controversial Reformation issues, such as the veneration of Mary, justification, the sacraments, and the nature of the Church, combined respect for tradition with innovation. Furthermore, his moral teachings offer profound insights into significant societal issues of the period, including public worship and the relations between the sexes. Salmerón's brief yet carefully crafted discussion of the Society of Jesus provides invaluable insight into the self-perception of the first generation of Jesuits. This book highlights the ways in which this exceptional figure enriches our understanding of early modern Catholicism and Jesuit history.