LUIS DE LA PALMA. - Jesuit, writer on ascetics, b. at Toledo in 1550, d. at Madrid on 20 Apr. 1641. After completing his studies, he was almost always in positions of government; superior at Talavera, Villarejo, Madrid, Alcalá, Murcia and twice provincial of Toledo (1615-18; 1624-27).
He devoted himself to preparing his works for publication, at the order of his superiors who knew how much they were in demand by readers; thus appeared the two truly classic works which earned him the reputation of the best master of spirituality of his century: *Historia de la sagrada Pasión, sacada de los 4 Evangelios* (Alcalá 1624), not a critical and scientific history, but a meditative history, dense with affections and practical and effective advice; *Camino espiritual* (2 vols., 1616), a full commentary on the book of the *Exercises* of St. Ignatius. The two works were to have been followed by other volumes; but only the following was published: *Práctica y breve declaración del «Camino espiritual»* (Madrid 1629). After his death there appeared: *Tractatus aliqui de examine conscientiae generali, quotidiano* (Antwerp 1710).