Arbiol y Díez, Antonio

ARBIOL Y DÍEZ, ANTONIO. - Spanish Franciscan, preacher and mystical writer, b. at Torrellas in 1651, d. at Saragossa on 31 January 1726. In his Order he taught philosophy and theology and was provincial of Aragon. In 1720 he refused the bishopric of Ciudad Rodrigo, offered to him by Philip V. He enjoyed splendid fame as an orator.

A theologian versed in doctrine and in mystical practice, he combated pseudo-mystical illusions and was a great adversary of Molinos; in his writings is found the first list of the errors condemned by the Church on the matter. Among his works, reprinted several times, the principal ones are: Manuale Sacerdotum Sacris Litteris illustratum (Saragossa 1693), on priestly perfection; Certamen Marianum Parisiense (ibid. 1698); he defends the « Città Mistica » of María de Ágreda against the Sorbonne; Desengaños místicos a las almas detenidas o engañadas en el camino de la perfección (ibid. 1706); it is his principal work, on the states of prayer; the 4th book, a compendium of mystical theology, was also published separately under the title Promptuario místico; Mistica fundamental de Christo S. N., explicada por el glorioso y beato Padre s. Juan de la Cruz (ibid. 1723). Heerinckx lists 33 of his published works, besides many unpublished ones. A. distinguishes active or acquired contemplation, and passive, or infused, contemplation, which is the term of Christian perfection, and exhorts one to make to precede the mystical ways with a rigorous ascesis based on self-denial and renunciation.

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