MONTOVA, LUIS de. — Augustinian ascetical writer, b. at Belmonte (Cuenca) in 1497, d. at Lisbon in 1569. He was prior at Medina del Campo (1526–1535). The superior general appointed him his vicar to reform the Portuguese province, in which he remained until his death. Venerated by King John III and Sebastian, he declined both the bishopric of Vizeu and the office of royal confessor in order to devote himself to his mission as vicar.
Augustinian theologians who taught at Coimbra in the second half of the 16th century and missionaries in India recall the venerated master with filial affection in their writings; but the best tribute to him is formed by the numerous letters addressed to him between 1540 and 1568 Seripando (v.) and Cristoforo da Padova (general from 1551 to 1569); the latter’s successor, Taddeo da Perugia, noted in his register (Nov. 1570) that M. “for 35 years governed the province of Portugal most holily.”
M. wrote: *Meditación de la pasión de Cristo*, Medina 1534; *Vida de N. S. Yesu Christo*, Lisbon 1568; *Con*
dissime parte nelle mani dei Gesuiti; combatté la vendita di bevande alcooliche agli indiani; difese strenuamente i diritti di questi. Nel 1663
sejos para sus súbditos, ed. in the *Vida del ven. L. de M.*, by J. Román, Lisbon 1588, pp. 42–51.