ANTONIO das Chagas (Lat. a Plagis; Fonseca Soares). — Portuguese Franciscan, ascetical writer and preacher, b. at Vidigueira on 25 June 1631, d. at Torres Vedras on 30 Oct. 1682. In his youth he led a dissipated life and fled to Brazil after committing a duel-homicide; he later converted during a severe illness on his return to his homeland. Having donned the Franciscan habit at Évora, he studied at Coimbra and devoted himself to the apostolate.
He was a refined spiritual writer and is regarded among the classics of Portuguese literature. Many of his works, both in prose and poetry, were published posthumously in Lisbon. Noteworthy are: *Faiscas de amor divino e lagrimas de alma* (1683); *Espelho do Espírito em que deve verse e consolare alma* (1683); *Cartas espirituoses* (1684); *Obras espirituoses* (1684–87); *Escola de penitencia e flagello dos pecadores* (1687); *O Padre nosso comentado* (1688); *Sermões enunios* (1690); *Ramillete espiritual* (1722); *A Feniz re-ascida* (1728).