LOPES (LÓPEZ), GREGORIO. – Mystic, b. in Madrid on 4 July 1542, d. at Santa Fé (Mexico) on 20 July 1596. He lived in Navarre with a hermit; then at the age of 20 he went to Mexico City, where he lived as a hermit, working as a scribe. Later he moved to Santa Fé, where he devoted himself to the care of the sick, continuing his severe penances and converting many infidels.
A lofty mystic, he lived continually in the presence of God, and of himself he relates that «for thirty-six years he had been continually in a pure and naked act of love of God, without ever interrupting it even for a moment». The Quietists, especially Molinos and M. de Guyon, held L. in the highest honour and misused some of his texts.
Among his many writings, besides notable works on medicine and natural history, may be cited: Explicación del Apocalipsis; Cartas y otros varios papeles; Manual y advertencias para obispos y confesores; Industrias para misioneros. The Spanish Academy included L. in its Catalogo de Autoridades de la lengua.