Francisco Arias (1533 – 15 May 1605) was a Spanish

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author, known as a writer of ascetical

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s. Arias was born in

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and joined the

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at the age of twenty-six. He studied at the

University of Alcalá The University of Alcalá () is a public university located in Alcalá de Henares, a city 35 km (22 miles) northeast of Madrid in Spain and also the third-largest city of the region. It was founded in 1293 as a ''Studium Generale'' for t ...

, and was later professor of scholastic theology at

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, and professor of moral theology at the , Trigueros. He also served as rector of the colleges at Trigueros and

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. Arias was commonly regarded as a saint, and was known for his gift of prayer and his spirit of penance. He was especially devoted to the care of blacks,

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, and the inmates of hospitals and prisons. Arias was held in high esteem by

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, and his works are recommended by St. Francis of Sales in his ''Introduction to a Devout Life''.

Works

*''Spiritual Profit'' *''Treatise on the Rosary'' *''Imitation of Our Lady'' *''Imitation of Christ'' *''Mental Prayer'' *''The Use of the Sacraments'' *''The Promises of God'' *''The Turpitude and Grievousness of Sin''

References

External links

Full text of "The Charity of Jesus Christ" (archive.org)Full text of "Tractatus de Rosario de B. Virginis Mariae" (Google Books)Full text of "De imitatione beatiss. virginis Mariae" (Google Books)Full text of "De imitatione Dominae Nostrae gloriosae Virginis et Dei parae Mariae" (Google Books)
Writers from Seville 1533 births 1605 deaths 16th-century Spanish Roman Catholic theologians 16th-century Spanish Jesuits University of Alcalá alumni {{Spain-RC-clergy-stub