GIUSEPPE di GESÙ MARIA. - Mystical theologian of the Discalced Carmelites, Francesco Quiroga in the world, b. in 1562 at Castro Caldelas (diocese of Astorga), d. at Cuenca on 13 Dec. 1629. Having graduated in utroque iure, and already a canon of Toledo cathedral, he took the Carmelite habit and was ordained priest at Madrid (2 Feb. 1595). He was the first historiographer of the Order, an office entrusted to him in 1597. He distinguished himself by a perfect ascetical life. In his writings he defended the doctrine of s. Teresa di Gesù and s. Giovanni della Croce.
Besides many historical works, he wrote the following mystical works: Subida del alma a Dios y entrada en el parayso (2 vols., Madrid 1656, 1659, 1675, Italian version by p. Baldassarre [v.], Rome 1664); Concordancia de la doctrina de N. Madre S. Teresa de Jesús con la sagrada escritura, etc.; Apologia mistica en defensa de la contemplación divina (National Library of Madrid, ms. no. 4, 478); Don que tuvo s. Juan de la Cruz para guiar las almas (published in Obras de s. Juan, III, Toledo 1912, pp. 503-570); Tradado de la oración y contemplación, etc. (manuscript); Escala Mistica (manuscript); Una defensa brevisima de la doctrina de s. Teresa de Jesús y de s. Juan de la Cruz (National Library of Madrid, ms. no. 8, 273).