PÉREZ, ANTONIO. - Benedictine writer and theologian, archbishop, b. at S. Domenico di Silos on 2 May 1559, d. at Madrid on 1 May 1637. Abbot of S. Vincenzo di Salamanca until 1607, he was general of the Congregation of Valladolid for three years. On two occasions he was abbot of S. Martino di Madrid, from 1617 to 1621 and from 1625 to 1627.
On account of his learning he enjoyed the esteem of Philip IV, who appointed him his theologian and qualificator of the Supreme Inquisition. He was appointed bishop, first of Santa Fé, a see he refused because of his advanced age, then of Urgel, which he governed for six years, afterwards passing to Lérida; in 1634 archbishop of Tarragona, in 1637 transferred to the diocese of Avila, of which he was unable to take possession because of his ensuing death.
He left works of theology and history of great value: Pentateuchus fidei, sive de Ecclesia, de Conciliis, de Scriptura sacra, de Traditionibus sacris, de Romano Pontifice (Madrid 1620); Commentaria in Regulam t. Patris Benedicti (Lyons 1625; 2nd ed. Barcelona 1632); Authentica sanctorum quatuor Evangelistarum fides, adversus omnes repugnantes, haereticos ethnicasque philosophus (Lyons 1626); similar writings also for the Apostolic Letters and for the acts.
Bibliography
Ambrogio Mancone