He entered the
Society of Jesus in 1572 and was professed on 22 July 1592. He taught philosophy in
Granada, moral theology for one year in
Baeza, and theology for about twenty years in
Cordova and Seville. For a time he was rector of the College of Cordova, and represented his province,
Andalusia, at the Sixth General Congregation. The last years of his life were devoted to writing. His distinguishing characteristics seem to have been humility, a retiring disposition, and integrity. He declined to advise the citizens of Seville to pay a certain tribute, even though the
Duke of Lerma promised to obtain permission from
Pope Paul V to publish his manuscripts,
De Auxiliis, if he furthered his plans. Fray
Miguel de San José considers him a most finished theologian;
Jean Raymond Merlin a prudent student and faithful interpreter of the
Church Fathers, and
Kleutgen and
Menéndez Pelayo think that he combined positive historic theology with
scholastic theology, in a manner not achieved by the theologians who preceded him. ==Works==