«Instrue e informa bem os confessores»: Um estudo introdutório acerca da Suma de Moral e da Summa Lusitana dos jesuítas Lopo de Abreu (1547-1606) e Vicente Álvares (1581-1634)

Abstract

In 1603, Jesuit theologian Lopo de Abreu finished his Suma de Moral. To be used in colleges of Portuguese Asia, the manuscript consolidated Abreu’s authority throughout the Padroado, inside and outside of Jesuit institutions. The present paper puts into context the manual and its Latin version, the Summa Lusitana, a recently discovered translation produced around 1630. It evidences Abreu’s important contribution to the production of a theology of Portuguese Asia and his efforts in standardizing the teaching of cases of conscience as part of the process epitomized by the 1599 edition of the Ratio Studiorum.