Francesco Spiera
Encyclopedia
Francesco Spiera was a Protestant Italian jurist. The manner of his death was the subject of numerous religious tracts.
, 20 km north of Padua
, then part of the Republic of Venice
. Interest in Spiera is because Protestants of early modern period used his case as an example of the dreadful consequences of the sin against the Holy Ghost
: he discerned evangelical truth, but denied and abjured it for external reasons.
Spiera had a respected position in his native town; and a fine house, in which ten children grew up, appeared to insure his happiness. Besides the Scriptures, there fell into his hands various evangelical writings, such as The Benefit of Christ's Death, Doctrine Old and New, and Summary of Sacred Scripture, which instilled in him doubts about Roman Catholic teachings, such as those on purgatory
and veneration of the saints.
With others he was arraigned before the Inquisition
at Venice
; and his trial came off between May 24 and June 20, 1548. On the latter day in St. Mark's Spiera made solemn abjuration of his "errors," and subscribed the abjuration, which he then repeated on the following Sunday in Cittadella
, after mass in the cathedral. On returning home, so he related it himself, "the Spirit," or the voice of his conscience, began to reproach him for having denied the truth. Amid grounds of comfort that either he or his friends advanced, and a state of despair that grew more and more hopeless, there began a terrible struggle within himself, which so affected him physically that he was taken to Padua
to be treated by physicians. The treatment was in vain, and the conflict, which Pier Paolo Vergerio
and others witnessed, ended in his death, shortly after his return to his home. That Spiera laid violent hands on himself is later invention.
Life
He was born at CittadellaCittadella
Cittadella is a medieval walled city in the province of Padua, northern Italy, founded in the thirteenth century as a military outpost of Padua. The surrounding wall has been restored and is 1461 m in circumference with a diameter of around 450 m. There are four gates which roughly...
, 20 km north of Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
, then part of the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
. Interest in Spiera is because Protestants of early modern period used his case as an example of the dreadful consequences of the sin against the Holy Ghost
Eternal sin
Eternal sins or unforgivable sins or unpardonable sins, are a concept in Christian theology of sins which cannot or will not be forgiven, whereby salvation becomes impossible...
: he discerned evangelical truth, but denied and abjured it for external reasons.
Spiera had a respected position in his native town; and a fine house, in which ten children grew up, appeared to insure his happiness. Besides the Scriptures, there fell into his hands various evangelical writings, such as The Benefit of Christ's Death, Doctrine Old and New, and Summary of Sacred Scripture, which instilled in him doubts about Roman Catholic teachings, such as those on purgatory
Purgatory
Purgatory is the condition or process of purification or temporary punishment in which, it is believed, the souls of those who die in a state of grace are made ready for Heaven...
and veneration of the saints.
With others he was arraigned before the Inquisition
Inquisition
The Inquisition, Inquisitio Haereticae Pravitatis , was the "fight against heretics" by several institutions within the justice-system of the Roman Catholic Church. It started in the 12th century, with the introduction of torture in the persecution of heresy...
at Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
; and his trial came off between May 24 and June 20, 1548. On the latter day in St. Mark's Spiera made solemn abjuration of his "errors," and subscribed the abjuration, which he then repeated on the following Sunday in Cittadella
Cittadella
Cittadella is a medieval walled city in the province of Padua, northern Italy, founded in the thirteenth century as a military outpost of Padua. The surrounding wall has been restored and is 1461 m in circumference with a diameter of around 450 m. There are four gates which roughly...
, after mass in the cathedral. On returning home, so he related it himself, "the Spirit," or the voice of his conscience, began to reproach him for having denied the truth. Amid grounds of comfort that either he or his friends advanced, and a state of despair that grew more and more hopeless, there began a terrible struggle within himself, which so affected him physically that he was taken to Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
to be treated by physicians. The treatment was in vain, and the conflict, which Pier Paolo Vergerio
Pier Paolo Vergerio
Pier Paolo Vergerio was an Italian religious reformer.-Life:He was born at Capodistria , then part of the Venetian Republic and studied jurisprudence in Padua, where he delivered lectures in 1522. He also practiced law in Verona, Padua, and Venice...
and others witnessed, ended in his death, shortly after his return to his home. That Spiera laid violent hands on himself is later invention.
Further reading
- M. A. Overell, The Exploitation of Francesco Spiera, The Sixteenth Century Journal, Vol. 26, No. 3 (Autumn, 1995), pp. 619–637.