ANTONIO das CHAGAS (Lat. a Plagis; FONSECA SOARES). - Portuguese Franciscan, ascetical writer and preacher, b. at Vidigueyra on 25 June 1631, d. at Torres Vedras on 30 Oct. 1682. In his youth he led a dissolute life and fled to Brazil after killing a man in a duel; he was converted following a serious illness contracted upon his return to his homeland. Having donned the Franciscan habit at Evora, he studied at Coimbra and devoted himself to the apostolate.
He was an accomplished spiritual writer and is considered among the classics of Portuguese literature. His many works, in prose and verse, were all published posthumously at Lisbon. Worth noting are: Faicas de amor divino e lagrimas de alma (1683); Espelho do Espirito em que deve verse e comporse alma (1683); Cartas espirituaes (1684); Obras espirituaes (1684-87); Escola de penitencia e flagello dos peccadores (1687); O Padre nosso comentado (1688); Sermões genuinos (1690); Ramilhete espiritual (1722); A Feniz renascida (1728).