CAPILLA, ANDRÉS. — Spanish Carthusian, ascetical writer. B. at Valencia in 1529, d. at Urgel on 22 Sept. 1609. At the age of 15 he entered the Society of Jesus, teaching theology at Valencia and later at the Roman College. After several unsuccessful attempts, he obtained permission from St Pius V to retire among the Carthusians (Scalæ Dei near Tarragona, 1569). He was prior in various Carthusian houses in Italy and Spain; in 1587 he was consecrated Bishop of Urgel. As an ascetical writer he is of considerable importance; he was praised by St Francis de Sales.
His principal works, which had many editions and translations, include: *Libro de la oración en que se ponen consideraciones sobre los Evangelios de todos los domingos del año y algunas fiestas principales*, Lerida 1572; *Manual de ejercicios espirituales*, ibid. 1576; *Libro segundo de la oración... consideraciones de todas las ferias de cuaresma*, Saragossa 1577; *Libro tercero... consideraciones de los Evangelios de algunas fiestas principales de los santos*, Salamanca 1580; this is his masterpiece and was translated into Latin, Italian and French. For the first time it proposes as subjects of meditation the Gospel texts of the liturgy of the time and of the saints. With his *Commentaria in Ieremiam prophetam* (Certosa di Scala dei, 1586) C. reveals himself as a scholar of wide learning.