HURTADO, CASPAR

Jesuit theologian; b. Mondejar, New Castile, 1575;d. Alcalá, Aug. 5, 1646. He studied at the University of Alcalá de Henares, where he won high honors over many competitors in his doctoral examination. He was immediately appointed professor at the University, where he lectured with success until 1607. Then, at age 32, he resigned his chair to enter the Society of Jesus. He continued lecturing in theology, with brief stays at Murcia and Madrid. Subsequently, he went to Alcalá, where he taught for the remaining 30 years of his life. When he died, he was dean of the faculty. Hurtado's life was distinguished by learning and piety. A famous orator as well as a distinguished lecturer, he preached successfully before the Spanish Court. In his theological writings, noted for their concision and clarity, Hurtado was among the first to depart from the method of St. Thomas and to follow a system of his own. His principal works are: De Eucharistia, sacrificio missae et ordine (Alcalá 1620), De matrimonio et censuris (Alcalá 1627), De incarnatione Verbi (Alcalá 1628), De Sacramentis in genere et in specie (Alcalá 1628), De beatitudine, de actibus humanis, bonitate et malitia, habitibus, virtutibus et peccatis (Madrid 1632), Disputationes de sacramentis et censuris (Antwerp 1633), and De Deo (Madrid 1642).

Bibliography: c. sommervogel, Bibliothèque de la Compagnie de Jésus, 11 v. (Brussels–Paris 1890–1932) 4:532–533. h. hurter, Nomenclator literarius theologiae catholicae, 5 v. in 6 (3d ed. Innsbruck 1903–13) 3.922–923. j. simÓn–dÍaz, Historia del Colegio imperial de Madrid, v.1 (Madrid 1952). j. urriza, La preclara Facultad de Arte y Filosofía de la Universidad de Alcalá de Henares en el siglo de oro, 1509–1621 (Madrid 1941). n. antonio, Bibliotheca hispana sive Hispanorum, 2 v. (Rome 1672). p. alegamba, Bibliotheca scriptorum Societatis Jesu (Antwerp 1643).

[j. e. koehler]