Diogo das Chagas
Encyclopedia
Diogo das Chagas was a Franciscan
monk
and Azorean
historian
, author of Espelho Cristalino, an important resource on the colonization of the islands of the central and western groups of the Portuguese
Azores
, after 1640.
of the island of Flores, and his wife, D. Catarina de Fraga Rodovalho.
Little is known of his infancy and childhood; Chagas wrote that his first studies occurred in the city of Angra
, where he received ecclesiastical training, but, owing for the absence of a bishop
in the Diocese de Angra
, he travelled to Lisbon in 1612, in order to be ordained priest. He returned in 1614, and began studying Art at the Colégio da Companhia de Jesus
in Angra. In 1616, he registered in Theology
at the University of Coimbra. He completed his studies in 1620, and returned to the Azores and taught Theology at the Convent of São Francisco in Angra.
He became guardian of the Convent of São Francisco in Praia
(in 1627) and church orator (in 1629). Along with his brother, Friar Mateus da Conceição, he was responsible for convincing the Franciscan hierarchy to de-annex the Azores from the Província Franciscana dos Algarves (), to a wholly local Província Franciscana de São João Evangelista dos Açores () administration, in 1638. It was only after the aclamation of John IV of Portugal
that the new entity was established, in 1641.
A friend of Captain-major
Francisco de Ornelas da Câmara, Chagas was a vocal supporter of the Guerra do Castelo () during the Portuguese Restoration War
, (27 March 1641 - 4 March 1642), which was responsible for the surrender of the Spanish garrison at the Fort of São João Baptista, in Terceira.
In 1646, he was made provincial vicar of the Franciscan Order in the Azores, a position he would hold until 1649. During his time in the role, he traveled successively throughout the archipelago, in order to meet with the local people and explore his faith community. He was considered the most dignified Father in 1655, at the time that new provincial elections were held.
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
and Azorean
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, author of Espelho Cristalino, an important resource on the colonization of the islands of the central and western groups of the Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
, after 1640.
Biography
He was the son of Mateus Coelho da Costa, Captain-majorCaptain-major
Captain-major is the English rendering of the Portuguese title Capitão-mor for colonial officers, put in charge of a capitania, Portuguese possession deemed not important enough to have its own colonial Governor.Due to the impossibility of exercising direct control and sovereignty over islands,...
of the island of Flores, and his wife, D. Catarina de Fraga Rodovalho.
Little is known of his infancy and childhood; Chagas wrote that his first studies occurred in the city of Angra
Angra do Heroísmo
Angra do Heroísmo , locally referred to as Angra, is a municipality and city on the island of Terceira, within the Portuguese autonomous region of the Azores. The municipal area has a population of 35,581 and an area of . Along with Praia da Vitória to the north, it is one of two municipal...
, where he received ecclesiastical training, but, owing for the absence of a bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
in the Diocese de Angra
Roman Catholic Diocese of Angra
The Roman Catholic diocese of Angra is in the Azores, Portugal. The episcopal see of the Azores, created in 1534 by Pope Paul III, has a bishop who is a suffragan of the patriarch of Lisbon, Cardinal José da Cruz Policarpo, of the archdiocese of Lisbon. It was vacant from 1637 to 1671...
, he travelled to Lisbon in 1612, in order to be ordained priest. He returned in 1614, and began studying Art at the Colégio da Companhia de Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
in Angra. In 1616, he registered in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the University of Coimbra. He completed his studies in 1620, and returned to the Azores and taught Theology at the Convent of São Francisco in Angra.
He became guardian of the Convent of São Francisco in Praia
Praia da Vitória
Praia da Vitória is a municipality in Portugal's Autonomous Region of the Azores. The second largest administrative division on the island of Terceira, Praia da Vitória occupies the northern coast of the island and extends halfway into the interior having at its frontiers Pico Alto and the shield...
(in 1627) and church orator (in 1629). Along with his brother, Friar Mateus da Conceição, he was responsible for convincing the Franciscan hierarchy to de-annex the Azores from the Província Franciscana dos Algarves (), to a wholly local Província Franciscana de São João Evangelista dos Açores () administration, in 1638. It was only after the aclamation of John IV of Portugal
John IV of Portugal
|-|John IV was the King of Portugal and the Algarves from 1640 to his death. He was the grandson of Catherine, Duchess of Braganza, who had in 1580 claimed the Portuguese crown and sparked the struggle for the throne of Portugal. John was nicknamed John the Restorer...
that the new entity was established, in 1641.
A friend of Captain-major
Captain-major
Captain-major is the English rendering of the Portuguese title Capitão-mor for colonial officers, put in charge of a capitania, Portuguese possession deemed not important enough to have its own colonial Governor.Due to the impossibility of exercising direct control and sovereignty over islands,...
Francisco de Ornelas da Câmara, Chagas was a vocal supporter of the Guerra do Castelo () during the Portuguese Restoration War
Portuguese Restoration War
Portuguese Restoration War was the name given by nineteenth-century 'romantic' historians to the war between Portugal and Spain that began with the Portuguese revolution of 1640 and ended with the Treaty of Lisbon . The revolution of 1640 ended the sixty-year period of dual monarchy in Portugal...
, (27 March 1641 - 4 March 1642), which was responsible for the surrender of the Spanish garrison at the Fort of São João Baptista, in Terceira.
In 1646, he was made provincial vicar of the Franciscan Order in the Azores, a position he would hold until 1649. During his time in the role, he traveled successively throughout the archipelago, in order to meet with the local people and explore his faith community. He was considered the most dignified Father in 1655, at the time that new provincial elections were held.
Published works
- Espelho Cristalino em Jardim de Várias Flores (c.1646 - c.1654)
- Relação do que aconteceu na Cidade de Angra da ilha Terceira, depois da feliz aclamação d'el rei D. João IV, que Deus guarde, na restauração do Castelo de S. João Baptista do Monte Brasil, até se embarcarem os castelhanos que o ocupavam…
- Fundação da Província de São João Evangelista das Ilhas dos Açores (lost)
- Meditação da luta do Diabo com Adam, pelo qual saiu Cristo Senhor Nosso a lutar com o Diabo
- Consolação da pobreza, e remédio para qualquer muito muito pobre, ser muito rico
- De como se busca e acha a bem-aventurança