Spaniard Quietist Miguel De Molinos Essay Research

Spaniard Quietist Miguel De Molinos Essay, Research Paper

The Spaniard Quietist Miguel de Molinos

I. Factors.

The Church, since its origins has suffered from the attack of heretics

and their heresies which have caused many controversies and schisms within it.

However, many of the conflicts are the result of other than heresies. There are

cases where conflicts arose because of ambition of power, lack of moral, and

intrigues, other because of lack of wisdom and a poor theological understanding.

One of the instances in which a mixture of the elements mentioned above

were present was the case of the Spaniard quietist Miguel de Molinos during the

XVII century. Molinos was accused by the Church with charges of heresy as well

as of immoral misconduct. His main work La Gu.a Espiritual (”The spiritual

Guide”) was placed in the Index of the Church, and Molinos himself was

condemned to life imprisonment, “to be perpetually clothed in the penitential

garb, to recite the Credo and one third of the Rosary, and to make confession

four times every year”.

Molinos recanted publicly. His admirers said that he was behaving

consistently with what he believed and taught. His accusers said that his

recanting was a proof of his guilt.

What were real motives why Molinos admitted his “guilt”. Molinos once

said: “The true quietists are always quiet, serene and eve-minded in Graces and

in extraordinary favors as also in the most rigorous and bitter torments. No

news causes them to rejoice, no event saddens them”. Was Miguel de Molinos

trying to be consistent way with his mystical teachings of total passivity., or

was he really guilty as charged. Was Molinos a victim of the jealousy of the

Jesuits. Was his fall caused by “the machinations of a corrupt clergy who saw

that they would loose their living if his plain and simple method of devotion

were generally adopted”. Did he ever had any other options than recant

admitting his culpability. Was martyrdom his only other option.

II. Protagonists

Molinos was a man of noble character and a “brilliant and widely

cultured mind”. His reputation of director of consciences and spiritual guide

granted him the admiration and esteem of all kinds of people among whom was

Cardinal Benedict Odescalchi who later became pope Innocent XI. At his arrest

those who new him close were very distressed. His servants kissing his feet and

calling his “a saint” where convinced that all was a mistake. When all this

took place in 1685 Molinos was fifty-seven years old, (he was born in 1628 ).

Although when arrested he lost control , during the trial he show no

apprehension, “he was a quietist by conviction” .

The pope Innocent XI ( former Cardinal Benedict Odescalchi and personal

friend of Molinos ) was born in Como (Italy) and pursued his studies in Geneva,

Rome, and Naples. He was elected pope by the Cardinal College in 1676. He is

portrayed by catholic historians as pope that was committed to keep an

honorable life, which was hard to do in his age – and office -. He made reforms

in the Church specially in relation with the abuses of nepotism. In order to be

consistent with his convictions he kept his own nephew away from the Roman Curia.

Because of his campaign against king Louis XVI Innocent was called the

Protestant pope by the Gallican party. He was considered a man of “iron hand”

when needed. “He made some prescriptions concerning the behavior of the clergy,

forbade the entering of women into the Vatican Palace (except the royalty), ….

and condemned the Quietism of Molinos”. Concerning his former friendship with

Molinos he claimed “Veramente siamo engannati”.

III. The Conflict

The teachings of Molinos were not knew for the Church. In Spain the

mystic Juan Falcon. (1596-1638), had a large number of followers during his

lifetime. Another group, the “Alumbrados” influenced many people in Cadiz and

Seville in the late 1500’s. They taught that vocal prayer, and thinking in the

humanity of Jesus or in his passion must be avoided. In 1623 the Inquisition

condemned them as heretics. It is clear that both, Falcon. and the Alumbrados,

influenced Molinos’ thought.

Molinos’ doctrines about mysticism were world wide appreciated and

practiced. It is said that in Naples he had “more that 20.000 followers”. His

popularity among the royalty was notable. Queen Christina of Sweden, and

princess Borghese were among his devoted followers. The main work of Molinos La

Gu.a Espiritual was subject of investigation by the “Holy Office”. However the

conflict arose when the Jesuits begun to question his practices and the

teachings found in his writings which at one time were highly praise by the

clergy . Molinos has taught that “if souls in a high state of prayer are

tempted to commit the most obscene and blasphemous acts, they must not leave

thei

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