The School of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon
and the Gregorian University present an
original manuscript
Clavis Prophetarum
of antónio vieira s.j.
30 May・4:30 pm GMT・FLUL Amphitheatre 1
Eschaton
Eschaton is a word commonly associated with the final age of history. In Theology, eschatology is related to an end time, be it the end of history, the end of the world, or the end of an age.
A very rich eschatological tradition is associated with Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and translated into prophetical, messianic, millennial, and apocalyptic discourses. In the texts of the Old Testament, we find primarily prophetic and messianic expressions, such as those found in the books of Ezekiel, Zechariah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Amos. But, as time evolves and expectations regarding the coming of the Son of Man and the establishment of the Divine Kingdom, this type of narrative evolves toward what is today designated as Apocalyptic Literature.
Among this literary genre, there are two primary canonical texts to account for: Daniel in the Old Testament and Revelation in the New Testament. The latter is the perfect example of an apocalypse, while the first clearly shows how the genres evolved in the Old Testament by including prophetic, messianic, millennial, and apocalyptic passages.
Human apocalyptic expectation has guided the creation and development of Western Civilization from Antiquity until today. While anyone continues to believe in the establishment of a divine kingdom or the beginning of a new age, the apocalyptic expectation will always be present. Over the centuries, many individuals attempted to interpret the codified messages found in Daniel and Revelation. Names such as Jerome, Hippolytus, Augustine, Joachim of Fiore, Jean de Roquetaillade, or the Portuguese António Vieira, S.J. are among the most important exegetes to consider when studying this topic.
António Vieira S.J.
António Vieira, S.J. (1608—1697), was a man of multiple facets. He was a Jesuit by training, a diplomat at the service of the new Dynasty of Braganza, a prolific author, and one of the most accomplished and respected exegetes of his time. He lived between the Americas and Europe, serving his faith and king. In a certain way, his life was per se, a celebration of eschatological expectation. As an exegete, he was aware of the content of Daniel and Revelation and other non-canonical texts and how they referred to the end time. Furthermore, he was well acquainted with the Jewish expectation of the coming of a Messiah before the establishment of the divine kingdom.
Against all odds, Vieira did not always follow Augustine’s doctrine, according to which one should not search in the past and present historical events to attempt to know when the end time would take place. Vieira, the exegete and the writer, used all the eschatological styles available to him — prophetic, messianic, millennial, and apocalyptic — in his letters, sermons, documents written while imprisoned by the Portuguese Inquisition, and in his later works. Reading through his work equals a daily theological discovery, thus the expression “Oggi trovato”!
Team
Contacts
Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa | School of Arts and Humanities
Alameda da Universidade
1600-214 Lisboa PT
This work is financed with National Funds through FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology)
through the project UIDB/00019/2020 (CEC), and UIDB/04311/2020 and UIDP/04311/2020 (CH-ULisboa).
