Las pasiones y las virtudes en el “Cathecismo pequeño” del obispo Diego Ortiz de Villegas (1457-1519)

Abstract

El obispo nacido en Calzadilla (Badajoz) Diego o Diogo de Villegas, destacado hombre de conocimientos, desarrolla su actividad pastoral en Portugal donde llega como confesor de Juana la Beltraneja, asesorando en temas de astronomía y navegación a la monarquía portuguesa en la época de los descubrimientos, se encarga de la educación del heredero de la corona portuguesa (el futuro D. João III) y es promovido a la prelatura llegando a ser obispo de Tánger, (1491-1500), de Ceuta (1500-1504) y de Viseu (1505- 1519) respectivamente. En 1504 publica en Lisboa el “Cathecismo Pequeno da doctrina & instruiçam que os christaãos ham de creer & obrar pera conseguir a benauenturança eterna”. En la Segunda parte del tratado, que consta de cuarenta capítulos breves, el autor repasa los mandamientos, las virtudes teologales, los dones del espíritu, las potencias del alma, los pecados capitales, vicios y pecados contrarios a las virtudes y remedios al respecto. En un contexto religioso realiza una exposición a modo de tratado de las pasiones y virtudes en un periodo y una literatura propia del periodo de formación de la segunda escolástica, con referencias múltiples a las virtudes cristianas desde la impronta de la lectura de Aristóteles, reflejando el ambiente intelectual que se había marcado desde la Universidad de Salamanca a tierras portuguesas y, viceversa, y que tenía su fuente en la relación y correspondencia entre Dom Duarte y Alfonso de Cartagena.

The Bishop Diego or Diogo de Villegas, born in Calzadilla (Badajoz, Spain) and renown for his wisdom, carried out his pastoral activities in Portugal. He arrived as the confessor for Juana la Beltraneja, and advised the Portuguese Royal Family in matters of astronomy and navigation during the era of overseas discoveries. He was also in charge of the education of the heir to the Portuguese crown (the later to be D. João III). Later on, he was promoted to prelate and became Bishop of Tangier (1491-1500), of Ceuta (1500-1504) and of Viseu (1505-1519), respectively. In 1504 he publishes in Lisbon the “Cathecismo Pequeno da doctrina & instruiçam que os christaãos ham de creer & obrar pera conseguir a benauenturança eterna”. In the second part of the treatise, which consists of forty brief chapters, the author goes over the Ten Commandments, the Theological Virtues, the spiritual gifts, the Powers of the soul, the Seven Deadly Sins, vices and virtues that stand against the virtues, as well as instructions on how to remedy them. Always working within a religious context, he presents the passions and the virtues in the form of a treatise, as well as showcasing the literary style that was so characteristic of the Second Scholasticism in its early years. He makes numerous references to the Christian virtues under the influence of Aristotle, thus reflecting the intellectual atmosphere that had expanded from the University of Salamanca to Portuguese territory and viceversa. This stemmed from the relationship and correspondence between Don Duarte and Alfonso de Cartagena.