CABRERA, ALONSO de. — Celebrated Spanish preacher, born in Cordova in 1546 of a noble family. Having become a Dominican in Cordova, he developed his rare gifts of intelligence and heart. After having been a missionary in America, he devoted himself to the teaching of theology—according to J. Echard—at the University of Osuna. However, his name does not appear in the list of theology professors at that University compiled by Fr. V. Beltrán de Heredia (La Ciencia Tomista, 26th series, 49 [1934], pp. 145–73). He was prior in Seville and Granada.
He distinguished himself through his apostolic zeal and all the technical qualities of a great orator; he captivated his audiences with his learned and singular eloquence, his purity of language, and his powerful, pleasing voice. He was heard with acclaim and to great effect in Seville, Cordova, Granada, Valencia, Toledo, Madrid, and elsewhere. Court preacher to Philip II and Philip III for four years, he remained a humble friar. He is regarded as the greatest Spanish preacher of his century. His sermon for the funeral of Philip II, delivered on 31 October 1598 at S. Domingo el Real (printed in Madrid in 1598 and in Barcelona in 1606), was included in the Catálogo de Autoridades de la Lengua. He died prematurely and was buried on 20 November 1598 in the convent of S. Tomás in Madrid.
Among the various sermons and writings published under the care of fellow religious, the following may be mentioned: Tratado de los escrúpulos y sus remedios (Valencia 1599; Barcelona 1606; Italian translation, Palermo 1612; French translation, Paris 1622); Consideraciones sobre los Evangelios desde el domingo de Septuagésima hasta el domingo de la octava de Resurrección (2 parts, Cordova 1601; Barcelona 1602 and 1606) and Sobre los Evangelios del Adviento y dominicos hasta la Septuagésima con las festividades de Santos que ocurren en este tiempo (two parts, Cordova 1608; Barcelona 1609 and Saragossa 1610).