SA (SÁ, SAA), MANOEL da. - Portuguese theologian, b. at Villa do Conde in 1530, d. at Arona in the reputation of sanctity in 1596. A Jesuit from 1546, he distinguished himself in moral theology and exegesis at the Collegio Romano from 1557 onward. He was also a great preacher, including at the papal court and in several cities of Italy.
Among his works: Aphorismi Confessariorum ex Doctorum sententiis collecti (Venice 1595 ff.). The fruit of 40 years’ work, it is a classic treatise. Since S. defended confession by letter, the book was placed on the Index in 1603, donec corrigatur. Once these corrections had been made, in 1608, the work had many editions. His exegetical works explain the literal sense with clarity, precision, and brevity, somewhat in the manner of a “key” to the most difficult passages: Scholia in quatuor Evangelia (Antwerp 1596 ff.); Notationes in totam S. Scripturam (ibid. 1598 ff.).