TOSTADO, ALONSO, – Theologian, exegete, and bishop, b. at Madrigal (Castile) ca. 1400, d. at Bonilla della Sierra (Avila) on 3 Sept. 1455.
Rector of the College of S. Bartolomeo (1436) and of Salamanca, he taught philosophy, theology, and law there simultaneously. Because of certain bold theses, especially concerning the nature and remissibility of sin, T. was summoned to defend himself before Eugene IV, who was then residing at Siena (1443). The examining commission (Cardd. Torquemada, Capranica, and Orsini) inclined toward condemnation, which he nevertheless escaped through skilful replies and prompt submission. Nicholas V, at the request of King John II, appointed him bishop of Avila in 1449 (hence the name Abulensis), and during six years of wise governance he acquired a reputation for holiness. His exegetical-theological activity, before and after his episcopate, became proverbial (escribe mas que el Tostado), and the following inscription was therefore placed on his tomb: « Hic stupor est mundi, qui scibile discutit omne ».
His works, in 13 vols. (Venice 1501–1503, and reprinted there in 16 [1596], 22 [1616], and 27 vols. [1723]), consist predominantly of lengthy commentaries on nearly all the books of the Old Testament, on Mt. and Hebr., in which, after a careful literal explanation, he accumulates numerous, subtle, and at times ingenious scholastic discussions around verses of dogmatic significance. The final volume of the published works contains the treatises: Defensorium trium propositionum (he defends the propositions censured at Siena); Paradoxa (on the Eucharist, the Immaculate Conception, of which he is a decided defender, the Incarnate Word, Redemption, the Angels, and vocal prayer). There are numerous unpublished works, manuscripts of which are preserved at Salamanca and Madrid (cf. Bosi, op. cit. in bibliography, pp. 52–54), as well as many works that have been lost.