BONILLA, JUAN de. — Spanish Franciscan, born around the middle of the 16th century. In 1571 he was superior at the Observant convent of Villasilos (Palencia). He was highly versed in theology, asceticism, and mysticism. In 1580 his Tratado de la paz del alma was published simultaneously at Salamanca and Alcalá de Henares: a most outstanding work for its purity of language, solidity and profundity of doctrine, and clarity of exposition.
His teachings are of perennial relevance, and reading him remains useful and fruitful even today. The work was reprinted many times in Spain and was translated into Italian (1587), French (1662), English, and other languages. The last edition was that of Paris in 1912.
BIBL.: Giovanni di S. Antonio, Biblioth, universa franc., 2nd ed., Madrid 1732, p. 138. Silverio di Santa Teresa