Sebastián Francisco de Medrano (

Madrid Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...

, 1590–1653) was a prominent nobleman born into the

Medrano Medrano is a Spanish surname of Basque language, Basque origin that means "abundance, to grow, to prosper, or to improve." It is a surname of high nobility established in the old Kingdoms of Kingdom of Navarre, Navarre, Kingdom of Aragon, Aragon, k ...

family, a

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator (thought, thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral t ...

and

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes play (theatre), plays, which are a form of drama that primarily consists of dialogue between Character (arts), characters and is intended for Theatre, theatrical performance rather than just Readin ...

of the

Baroque period The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from the early 17th century until the 1750s. It followed Renaissance art and Mannerism and preceded the Rococo (in ...

, and the founder and president of the

Medrano Academy The Medrano Academy (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Academia Medrano''), also known as the Poetic Academy of Madrid, was a prominent ''academia literaria'' of the Spanish Golden Age, founded by Dr. Sebastian Francisco de Medrano, Sebastián Francisc ...

, located on Leganitos street in

. He was the

commissioner A commissioner (commonly abbreviated as Comm'r) is, in principle, a member of a commission or an individual who has been given a commission (official charge or authority to do something). In practice, the title of commissioner has evolved to incl ...

of the

Spanish Inquisition The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition () was established in 1478 by the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Catholic Monarchs, King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile and lasted until 1834. It began toward the end of ...

, acting as the official censor of '' comedias''. He was also chief

chaplain A chaplain is, traditionally, a cleric (such as a minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, purohit, or imam), or a lay representative of a religious tradition, attached to a secular institution (such as a hospital, prison, military unit, intellige ...

, chief

almoner An almoner () is a chaplain or church officer who originally was in charge of distributing money to the deserving poor. The title ''almoner'' has to some extent fallen out of use in English, but its equivalents in other languages are often used f ...

, and

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in parti ...

at San Pedro el Real in Madrid. He became the Protonotary Apostolic of the

Pope The pope is the bishop of Rome and the Head of the Church#Catholic Church, visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. From the 8th century until 1870, the po ...

, Apostolic Judge, chaplain and

treasurer A treasurer is a person responsible for the financial operations of a government, business, or other organization. Government The treasury of a country is the department responsible for the country's economy, finance and revenue. The treasure ...

for Gómez Suárez de Figueroa, III Duke of Feria. Medrano was the author of the celebrated

miscellany A miscellany (, ) is a collection of various pieces of writing by different authors. Meaning a mixture, medley, or assortment, a miscellany can include pieces on many subjects and in a variety of different forms. In contrast to anthologies, w ...

Favores de las Musas ''Favores de las Musas'' (English language, English: Favors of the Muses) is a remarkable Spanish Golden Age miscellany by Sebastian Francisco de Medrano, Sebastián Francisco de Medrano, first published in Milan in 1631 by Juan Bautista Malates ...

''. The Spanish novelist and playwright Alonso de Castillo Solórzano described Medrano as "the prince of the most renowned Academy Madrid ever had."

Career

Sebastián Francisco de Medrano was a poet of the

Spanish Golden Age The Spanish Golden Age (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Siglo de Oro'', , "Golden Century"; 1492 – 1681) was a period of literature and the The arts, arts in Spain that coincided with the political rise of the Spanish Empire under the Catholic M ...

and a member of the illustrious House of

. He became a

Doctor of Canon Law Doctor of Canon Law (, JCD) is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church. It can also be an honorary degree awarded by Anglican colleges. It may also be abbreviated ICD or dr.iur.can. (''Iuris Can ...

, Protonotary Apostolic of His

Holiness Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects ( ...

, Judge, and a

of the

Inquisition The Inquisition was a Catholic Inquisitorial system#History, judicial procedure where the Ecclesiastical court, ecclesiastical judges could initiate, investigate and try cases in their jurisdiction. Popularly it became the name for various med ...

, acting as the official censor of '' comedias,'' a term largely created and defined by his close friend, Lope de Vega. There is news of Medrano's activity as a qualifier for a censorship located in the handwritten comedy by Luis Belmonte Bermúdez, called ''Casarse sin hablarse'', which was previously approved by Juan Navarro de Espinosa and later corrected by Sebastián Francisco de Medrano. San Pedro el viejo Madrid

He was also a

and chief

of San Pedro el Real in Madrid. He was the chaplain and

for Gómez Suárez de Figueroa, III Duke of Feria. On 29 June 1622 he joined the priestly congregation of San Pedro el Real in Madrid, eventually becoming its

secretary A secretary, administrative assistant, executive assistant, personal secretary, or other similar titles is an individual whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, program evalu ...

and chief

. Alonso de Castillo Solórzano confirmed Medrano's career in the introductory to the ''Favors of the Muses'':

Medrano was a teenager when he founded the Academy. He had been born in Madrid, into an illustrious family at the end of the 16th century; He was a priest and commissioner of the Inquisition, acting as the official censor of comedies. He was also chaplain and treasurer of the Duke of Feria; From 1622 he belonged to the priestly congregation of San Pedro, which made up the natural priests of Madrid, becoming secretary and chief chaplain of this institution.

Sebastián Francisco de Medrano most notably established the

as a teenager and became its president. The Medrano Academy was a famous ''

academia literaria The ''academia literaria'' ('literary academy') was a literary ''tertulia'' popular during Spain's Spanish Golden Age, Golden Age (''Siglo de Oro'') of literature and the arts, from the early sixteenth century to the late seventeenth century (c. 1 ...

'' hosting key figures in the

(1492–1659) of

Baroque literature The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from the early 17th century until the 1750s. It followed Renaissance art and Mannerism and preceded the Rococo ( ...

and

Spanish Golden Age theatre Spanish Golden Age theatre refers to theatre in Spain roughly between 1590 and 1681. Spain emerged as a European power after it was unified by the marriage of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile in 1469 and then claimed for Christian ...

, including

Lope de Vega Félix Lope de Vega y Carpio (; 25 November 156227 August 1635) was a Spanish playwright, poet, and novelist who was a key figure in the Spanish Golden Age (1492–1659) of Spanish Baroque literature, Baroque literature. In the literature of ...

Luis de Góngora Luis de Góngora y Argote (born Luis de Argote y Góngora; ; 11 July 1561 – 24 May 1627) was a Spanish Baroque lyric poet and a Catholic prebendary for the Church of Córdoba. Góngora and his lifelong rival, Francisco de Quevedo, are widel ...

Pedro Calderón de la Barca Pedro Calderón de la Barca y Barreda González de Henao Ruiz de Blasco y Riaño (17 January 160025 May 1681) (, ; ) was a Spanish dramatist, poet, and writer. He is known as one of the most distinguished Spanish Baroque literature, poets and ...

Francisco de Quevedo Francisco Gómez de Quevedo y Santibáñez Villegas, Order of Santiago, Knight of the Order of Santiago (; 14 September 1580 – 8 September 1645) was a Spanish nobleman, politician and writer of the Baroque era. Along with his lifelong rival, ...

and many others. Solórzano explained in the

epistle An epistle (; ) is a writing directed or sent to a person or group of people, usually an elegant and formal didactic letter. The epistle genre of letter-writing was common in ancient Egypt as part of the scribal-school writing curriculum. The ...

of Medrano's ''Favores de las Musas'':

... Much paper could be spent praising him, though as his true friend, I must note that he wrote these works in his youth, with a natural spirit that marks him as a born poet. He was the prince of the most renowned Academy Madrid ever had, where he presided over many poetic contests with great elegance and erudition, delivering judgments (a key aspect of such exercises) without offending anyone, and demonstrating immense grace and charm. His works were well-received and applauded by many distinguished audiences, including one session attended publicly by Their Majesties and the most illustrious figures of Spain, both in lineage and intellect. These early achievements prepared him for a literary career, creating works that blend erudition, doctrine, devotion, and example. He knows how to give each stage of life its due, prudently balancing his pursuits unlike others, who disrupt the natural order of life's stages and in old age are seen with clouded judgment and skewed understanding.

In addition, manuscript 3,889 (''Poesías varias'') of the

Biblioteca Nacional de España The (National Library of Spain) is the national library of Spain. It is the largest public library in the country, and one of the largest in the world. Founded in 1711, it is an autonomous agency attached to the Ministry of Culture since 1 ...

(BNM) contains what appears to be a foundational charter for a "Peregrine Academy," which, however, never became active. This document was likely authored by Sebastián Francisco de Medrano.. Jauralde Pou, Pablo (1979)
"Alonso de Castillo Solorzano, "Donaires del Parnaso" y "La fábula de Polifemo". ''Revista de Archivos, Bibliotecas y Museos''. LXXXII, no. 4, Madrid, October–December 1979, pp. 740 (footnote 35), 742.

. Retrieved 3 January 2025.

Poetic jousts

Like most poets of the time, Medrano participated in the poetic jousts in honour of the

beatification Beatification (from Latin , "blessed" and , "to make") is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a deceased person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name. ''Beati'' is the p ...

of San Isidro and was awarded in the 1622 poetic contest organized by

in honor of San Ignacio de Loyola and

San Francisco Javier San Francisco Javier is a municipality in the Usulután department of El Salvador. According to the official census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating popula ...

Creation of the Medrano Academy (Poetic Academy of Madrid)

With a fondness for

literature Literature is any collection of Writing, written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially novels, Play (theatre), plays, and poetry, poems. It includes both print and Electroni ...

and

art Art is a diverse range of cultural activity centered around ''works'' utilizing creative or imaginative talents, which are expected to evoke a worthwhile experience, generally through an expression of emotional power, conceptual ideas, tec ...

, Sebastián Francisco de Medrano created the

that many consider to coincide with the Poetic Academy of Madrid and lent his house in Leganitos between 1616 and 1622 for meetings. From 1623 onward, the Academy was directed by Francisco de Mendoza, and meetings were held at his residence. '' Favors of the Muses'' was composed for the Academy of Madrid and collected by Alonso de Castillo Solórzano, a friend of Medrano and who joined the group of poets in 1619.

Members

The most illustrious names in the

were part of his Academy, as Medrano himself pointed out in the introductory letter to the volume of the ''Favors of the Muses'', an incomplete list of the participants and in many cases coinciding with the Saldaña Academy. Among them were

Juan Ruiz de Alarcón Juan Ruiz de Alarcón (c. 1581 – 4 August 1639) was a New Spain, New Spanish writer of the Spanish Golden Age, Golden Age who cultivated different variants of dramaturgy. His works include the comedy ''La verdad sospechosa'' (:es:La verdad so ...

Luis Vélez de Guevara Luis Vélez de Guevara (born Luis Vélez de Santander) (1 August 1579 – 10 November 1644) was a Spanish dramatist and novelist. He was born at Écija and was of Jewish converso descent.Antonio Dominiguez Ortiz, "Los judeoconversos en Españ ...

Antonio Mira de Amescua Antonio Mira de Amescua (January 17, 1577 — September 8, 1644), Spanish dramatist, was born at Guadix (Granada) about 1578. He is said, but doubtfully, to have been the illegitimate son of one Juana Perez. He took orders, obtained a canonry at ...

Juan Pérez de Montalbán Juan Pérez de Montalbán (1602 – 25 June 1638) was a Spanish Catholic priest, dramatist, poet and novelist. Biography He was born in Madrid. At the age of eighteen, he became a licentiate in theology. He was ordained priest in 1625 and appointed ...

, Alonso de Castillo Solórzano, and others less known, such as Jerónimo de Villaizán, José Pellicer de Tovar,

Gabriel Bocángel Gabriel Bocángel y Unzueta (1603–1658) was a playwright and poet of the Spanish Golden Age. Born in Madrid, he studied at Alcalá de Henares and then served as librarian to Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand. He also served as bookkeeper and chron ...

, Guillén de Castro, Jiménez de Enciso, Gaspar del Ávila, Diego de Villegas, López de Zárate, the Prince of Esquilache, Valdivieso, Salas Barbadillo, Cristóbal de Mesa, Gabriel del Corral, and A. Hurtado de Mendoza.Cañas Murillo, Jesús. "Court and literary academies in the Spain of Philip IV". ''Yearbook of Philological Studies'', 35, 2012, p. 15. In 1620,

Tirso de Molina Gabriel Téllez, O. de M. (24 March 158320 February 1648), also known as Tirso de Molina, was a Spanish Baroque dramatist and poet, as well as a Mercedarian friar, and Catholic priest. He is primarily known for writing '' The Trickster of Sev ...

is also noted for participating at the gatherings of Medrano's Poetic Academy in Madrid.

Testimony of contemporary poets and playwrights

Among his relationships with the court poets, the friendship he apparently had with

stands out. Although he was not a distinguished playwright, his life coincided with the splendor of the new comedy and the vicissitudes of the theatrical revolution, with which he did not always agree. However, his defense of classical precepts did not prevent him from coexisting and friendship with Lope de Vega. As La Barrera pointed out:

He had very intimate relations with Lope de Vega, and chance caused that great man to be taken to his room, located in the Scottish seminary, when he fainted, which preceded his death by three days.

Lope de Vega

referred to him, praising him in ''El Laurel de Apolo'' (1630) in silva VII:

Don Sebastián Francisco de Medrano, illustrious in birth and in genius, with a different spirit, devoutly leaves behind profane writing.

Sebastián Francisco de Medrano knew how to respond to Lope de Vega in the ''Fama póstuma a la vida y muerte del doctor frey Lope Félix de Vega Carpio'' with a brief evangelical and moral discourse, based on chapter 26 of Matthew, where "the polemical target was the envious". Medrano further delves into this exposition on the close relationship he had with Lope:

The world knows well how much I loved him and how I defended him, and so silence will speak about what the eyes weep.

Although Medrano took part in numerous panegyric speeches, where praise was filtered through the evangelical reflection demonstrating his deep understanding of biblical scripture due to his religious upbringing, the epigram dedicated to Lope has stood out for its dissemination:

Lope is here, sepulcher, in you, for it finds its place inscribed in you, for if what is good is of Lope, Lope, for being good, is of God.

Juan Pérez de Montalbán

Medrano's relationship with

was also noteworthy and had probably developed in the Medrano Academy and during the jousts. Montalbán himself pointed this out in ''Para todos entre los ingenios'', praising him for his verses and his works:

Don Sebastián Francisco de Medrano, of sweet, sharp, and clear intellect. He has written with a great display of his wisdom many verses on various subjects and some plays, not for them to be performed, but to let it be known that he can create them. Above all, he had some soliloquies of the Ave María published, which, along with devotion, provide evidence of his good studies.

Luis Velez de Guevara

Speaking about the attendance of King Philip IV at one of Medrano's academy sessions,

Luis Velez de Guevara Luis is a given name. It is the Spanish form of the originally Germanic name or . Other Iberian Romance languages have comparable forms: (with an accent mark on the i) in Portuguese and Galician, in Aragonese and Catalan, while is archaic ...

wrote:

On that beautiful spring night in the year 1622... the Academy of that night came to an end.

Alonso de Castillo Solórzano

Solórzano remembered in his verses:

To an academy which was founded in Leganitos, I came to become a poet, although by novice layman.

The friendship most supported by the literary sources is the one he had with Alonso de Castillo Solórzano, who gathered his poems and theatrical works in the volume ''Favores de las musas''. In fact, it was possibly "Solórzano homade his first trip to Italy in 1631, accompanying his friend, Don Francisco de Medrano, the assistant of the Duke of Feria, for the publication of ''Favores de las musas''." Not all critics accept this first trip to Italy. Juliá Martínez believes that Solórzano's involvement in the publication of ''Favores de las musas'' was limited to preserving and collecting the works that Medrano had read in the Academy of Madrid, of which he was the president, so it was not necessary for him to travel to Milan for the publication of the work. On the other hand, Pablo Jauralde Pou believes that Solórzano could have indeed accompanied his friend to the Lombard capital, a reason that would justify the author's absence at the burial of his lord, Pedro III Fajardo, 5th Marquis of Los Vélez, in late 1631. The prologue of ''Favores de las musas'' makes their mutual friendship evident, both in the letter that Medrano dedicates to Solórzano and in Solórzano's response in his "Epistle to the Reader," with the intention of showing to the world the same as Montalbán had affirmed in his ''Para todos''.

A message from Sebastián Francisco de Medrano to Alonso de Castillo Solórzano

Sebastián Francisco de Medrano addressed Alonso de Castillo Solorzano in his ''Favors of the Muses'', reproduced here in part: "I beseech you, from Barcelona, not to burden yourself with such a great commitment as bringing my scribbles to light, which are so deserving of being buried in oblivion, not only out of modesty and humility but also for reason and propriety. Because when I was writing in my early years, things that even then seemed to be the passions of some, to my fortunate ignorance, were applauded by many others. And when I summoned so many flourishing minds to the academies, the glory of my house and the honor of my modest wealth, I thought (without having opened my eyes to deception) that with those youthful works, poorly or weakly founded, I would find a place among the famous, both due to the natural talent bestowed upon me by heaven and because fortune granted me some reputation through my youthfulness, allowing me to be considered knowledgeable, and even strong, as most of the elders favored me with the title of Master." "Therefore, I thought I could boast and presume. But as I gradually became wiser, I recognized the prudence in Lope de Vega, the honor of my homeland, a miracle of our nation, and a prodigy for foreigners, to whom all who wish to acknowledge the truth know how much they owe. I also saw doctor Juan de Amescua, Don Guillén de Castro y Bellvis, Luis Velez de Guevara, Don Juan de Alarcon, Don Diego Jimenez de Enciso, Tirso de Molina, Gaspar de Avila, Don Diego de Villegas y Quevedo, Don Rodrigo de Gerera, and Licentiate Luis Quiñones de Benavente. These were so marvellous in comedy and elegant in other sciences. Then I turned my attention to Francisco de Borja y Aragón, prince of Squillace, for whom heaven not only made him illustrious in blood but also equaled his genius, which was outstanding in all sciences and faculties..." "individuals are famous in all poems and celebrated in all sciences, subjects, and faculties, and are supreme objects of admiration. Seeing them, as I said, recognizing them, as I confess, and reverencing them, as I should, they have clipped the wings of my aspirations, and I have been cowed and hidden in the shadow of theirs. I praise them while studying them and remain silent while imitating them. Therefore, I implore Your Grace, since you have honoured me by presenting these works of mine to the public, to show these to those I acknowledge as my superiors, and ask forgiveness from those whom I have not named. This letter is for Your Grace, not a eulogy for others, and is written more out of humility and as an excuse for myself than for flattery or to praise others. Besides, most of the better-known individuals can be found among the lyricists in a composition if Your Grace remembers to have it printed. Do not blame these remarks, as I am so far from such matters that I am content to dabble in my limited writing, and in this, as in everything else, I am more inclined to silence in admiration and to feeling overawed. May God protect Your Grace as I desire." - Dr. D. Sebastian Francisco de Medrano. 1631.

Works by Sebastian Francisco de Medrano

* ''" Favors of the Muses bestowed on Don Sebastián Francisco de Medrano in various rhymes and plays composed in the most celebrated Academy of Madrid where he was a highly deserving president..."'' (Milan: Juan Baptista Malatesta, 1631). * ''"Evangelical and Moral Dictionary."'' * ''"Soliloquies of the Ave Maria"'' (Madrid, 1629). * ''"The Name for the Earth and Life for Heaven. Triumph of Justice. Great Device. Mysterious Emblem. Pilgrim Inscription. Clear Hieroglyph. Heroic Subject..."'' (Madrid: Catalina del Barrio, 1645). * '
Charity and Mercy, which the faithful must provide for the extreme need suffered by the blessed Souls of Purgatory: with all the jubilees earned in Madrid throughout the year on specific days, festivities, and churches... so that they may be applied to them as a form of suffrage
.."'' (Madrid: Domingo García y Morrás, 1651). Two

eclogue An eclogue is a poem in a classical style on a pastoral subject. Poems in the genre are sometimes also called bucolics. The term is also used for a musical genre thought of as evoking a pastoral scene. Classical beginnings The form of the word ...

s by Sebastian Francisco de Medrano were printed separately: * ''Égloga de Sebastián Francisco de Medrano. Dirigida a Doña Ana de Andino, y Luçuriaga...'' (1621) *
Égloga... a la señora doña Isabel de Andrade
' (1623) His ''Evangelical and Moral Dictionary was'' dedicated to

. In 1645, the separate publication ''El Nombre para la Tierra y la Vida para el Cielo. Triunfo de la Justicia. Empressa Grande. Emblema Misterioso. Inscripción Peregrina. Geroglífico Claro. Asumpto Heroico...'' was released, a dramatic

panegyric A panegyric ( or ) is a formal public speech or written verse, delivered in high praise of a person or thing. The original panegyrics were speeches delivered at public events in ancient Athens. Etymology The word originated as a compound of - ' ...

on the death of Queen Isabel de Borbón.

''Favors of the Muses'' (1631)

''Favores de las Musas'' (Favors of the Muses) is a

by Sebastián Francisco de Medrano, dedicated to the 3rd Duke of Feria and published in

Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...

in 1631 by Juan Bautista Malatesta, as indicated in the description on its cover: "Favors of the muses, made by Don Sebastian Francisco de Medrano, in several Rhymes, and Comedies, which he composed at the most famous Academy of Madrid where he was Most deserving President, compiled by Don Alonso de Castillo Solorzano, close friend of the Author. Milan, Juan Baptista Malatesta, at the expense of Carlo Ferranti, 1631".

''Caridad y misericordia'' (1652)

In 1652, Sebastián Francisco de Medrano published ''Caridad y misericordia'', a devotional treatise dedicated to the souls in Purgatory. Commissioned at the request of the Count of Lemos and of Andrade, and Viceroy of Aragon, the work outlines the

indulgences In the teaching of the Catholic Church, an indulgence (, from , 'permit') is "a way to reduce the amount of punishment one has to undergo for (forgiven) sins". The ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' describes an indulgence as "a remission bef ...

available in Madrid throughout the

liturgical calendar The liturgical year, also called the church year, Christian year, ecclesiastical calendar, or kalendar, consists of the cycle of liturgical days and seasons that determines when feast days, including celebrations of saints, are to be obs ...

year, specifying the

feast days The calendar of saints is the traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the day as the feast day or feast of said saint. The word "feast" in this context does n ...

, churches,

confraternities A confraternity (; ) is generally a Christian voluntary association of laypeople created for the purpose of promoting special works of Christian charity or piety, and approved by the Church hierarchy. They are most common among Catholics, L ...

, and

chapels A chapel (from , a diminutive of ''cappa'', meaning "little cape") is a Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. First, smaller spaces inside a church that have their own altar are o ...

where the faithful might apply them by way of

suffrage Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise is the right to vote in public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally in English, the right to v ...

. Medrano, acting in his capacity as notary of the

Holy See The Holy See (, ; ), also called the See of Rome, the Petrine See or the Apostolic See, is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City. It encompasses the office of the pope as the Bishops in the Catholic Church, bishop ...

and commissioner of the

, dedicates the work to Alonso Pérez de Guzmán el Bueno, Patriarch of the Indies and chief almoner to the king and the brother of Manuel de Guzman, 8th Duke of Medina Sidonia. Framed as both a theological guide and an institutional register of pious practice, the book reflects Medrano's dual role as ecclesiastical jurist and courtly theologian within the Spanish Counter-Reformation.

Dedication to Guzmán

In the dedication to ''Caridad y Misericordia'', Sebastián Francisco de Medrano addresses a high-ranking ecclesiastic—Alonso Pérez de Guzmán ''el Bueno'', Patriarch of the Indies and chief royal

—praising him as the ultimate protector of the poor: "no one is more bound to defend and protect the poor than he who truly and legitimately is their father." Medrano emphasizes that his dedicatee stands above even other clerical leaders, being not only "one of the foremost Pastors" but also "the chief almoner of the Monarch most devoted to God."

No one is more bound to defend and protect the poor than he who truly and legitimately is their father... Your Most Illustrious Lordship... a Pastor among Pastors... chief almoner of the Monarch most devoted to God... closer to the poor... especially those who cannot beg for themselves... We are both committed... to the blessed Souls in Purgatory... I entrust this brief treatise... under your protection and support... the approval of a Prelate of such piety and charity...

The dedication frames the treatise as a shared mission, presenting both author and patron as engaged in the "solicitude for the good of the blessed Souls in Purgatory." Medrano petitions the patron's spiritual and moral authority, referring to him as a "model and advocate for the afflicted," and entrusts the treatise to his "protection and support" so it may find favor and “reach the safe harbor of mercy." He concludes with humble submission, signing as "Your most obliged and devoted chaplain."

Introduction

In the introduction to Caridad y Misericordia, Sebastián Francisco de Medrano provides doctrinal grounding for the treatise by citing ecclesiastical authorities, including Cardinal of Toledo and Pope

Paschal II Pope Paschal II (; 1050 1055 – 21 January 1118), born Raniero Raineri di Bleda, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 August 1099 to his death in 1118. A monk of the Abbey of Cluny, he was creat ...

. He explains that indulgences granted on behalf of souls in purgatory are supported by Scripture (

2 Maccabees 2 Maccabees, also known as the Second Book of Maccabees, Second Maccabees, and abbreviated as 2 Macc., is a deuterocanonical book which recounts the persecution of Jews under King Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the Maccabean Revolt against him. It ...

), Church councils (notably Trent), and

papal The pope is the bishop of Rome and the visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. From the 8th century until 1870, the pope was the sovereign or head of sta ...

tradition. Medrano emphasizes that such indulgences—referred to as "by way of suffrage"—are acts of charity from the living that apply the spiritual merits of Christ and the saints to the dead. Notably, he affirms that even sinners in mortal sin may obtain these indulgences for others, as their efficacy derives not from the individual but from the Church's treasury of grace.

Ecclesiastical approval

The work ''Caridad y Misericordia'' received official ecclesiastical approval from Rodrigo de Mandiá y Parga, Archbishop-elect of Brindisi and Vicar General of Madrid, on 29 November 1650. In his approbation, he praised Sebastián Francisco de Medrano for his theological clarity, erudition, and moral diligence as a confessor and commissioner of the Inquisition. The treatise was commended for its persuasive style and doctrinal soundness, particularly in its treatment of purgatory and the application of indulgences. Mandiá noted that the book effectively encouraged pious acts toward the souls in purgatory and authorized it for publication as consistent with Catholic faith and good customs.

Royal and theological approval

The treatise also received theological approval from Fray Diego Fortuna, lector in Moral Theology at the convent of San Francisco in Madrid, acting under the authority of the Supreme and Royal

Council of Castile The Council of Castile (), known earlier as the Royal Council (), was a ruling body and key part of the domestic government of the Crown of Castile, second only to the monarch himself. It was established under Isabella I in 1480 as the chi ...

. Fortuna confirmed the work's orthodoxy, praising its doctrinal clarity, accurate use of citations, and its inclusion of a calendar of indulgences. He found it free of error and fully worthy of publication. Medrano was subsequently granted a ten-year printing privilege for ''Caridad y Misericordia'', issued on 28 January 1651. A certification of fidelity to the original manuscript was signed on 31 May 1651 by Dr. Francisco Marcia de la Llana, and the work was officially taxed at four maravedís per sheet by royal officials on the same date.

Bibliography

* ALONSO, D. ''Vida y obra de Medrano''. Madrid: Ediciones Académicas, 1948-1958.

References

{{Reflist 1590 births 1653 deaths 17th-century Spanish poets Baroque writers