On May 10,1562, the Portuguese Augustinian Valentim da Luz was led to the stake to be burned as a Lutheran. A complete hearing by the Lisbon Holy Office had convinced the inquisitors that he was deeply infected with the teachings of German heretics. J. C. da Silva Dias, whose works already include numerous writings on religion in early modern Portugal, has faithfully reproduced and annotated the lengthy trial proceedings for Valentim da Luz.
In his prolonged introduction, Silva Dias points out that Father Valentim’s crime was not in espousing the doctrinal teachings of Martin Luther; rather, the cleric had been deeply touched by new spiritual currents sweeping the Catholic world, and the judges of the Inquisition merely associated this spiritualism with already condemned heresies. The Iberian people were beset theologically in the mid-sixteenth century by Erasmian humanism and Protestantism; and as a member of the tiny group of alumbrado clergy, Valentim da Luz was caught up in the Church’s reaction to both movements. Ideologically, Valentim da Luz represented the fusion of Erasmian humanism and Italian irenicism. He became a disciple of Luis de Montoia, a leading alumbrado in Portugal at the time, and it was Montoia who selected Valentim as his personal secretary on an extended journey to Rome and throughout Italy. During his trial, Father Valentim admitted to having held disputations with luteranos while on this trip, and the inquisitors accordingly found him guilty as charged.
The proceedings are of considerable value in comprehending the official attitude of the Portuguese Church toward the theological currents sweeping Western Christendom during mid-century. It also demonstrates the considerable effort which the Church undertook to eradicate both Erasmian teachings as well as Lutheranism from regular clergy, and oftentimes the two philosophies were thoroughly confused with one another.
