Ponte, Luis De

Ponte, Luis de a Spanish Jesuit, noted as an ascetic writer, was born at Valladolid Nov. 11, 1554. He belonged to a noble family, but renounced all the advantages the world offered him, and at the age of twenty entered the Society of Jesus. He was during many years a teacher of philosophy and theology, but his failing health compelled him at last to monastical retirement. In his retreat he divided his time between prayer, good works, and the composition of pious writings, by which he obtained throughout Europe the reputation of an excellent master of spiritual life. He died Feb. 17, 1624. Most of his numerous writings were translated into Latin by Melchior Trevinnia. We mention Meditaciones de los Mysterios de, nuestra Santa Fe (Valladolid, 1605, 1613, 2 vols. 4to). This work was translated into several languages: into Arabic by F. Fromaye, and into French by F. Brignon (1613, 3 vols. 4to): — Guida Espiritual de la Oracion, Meditacion, y Contemplacion (ibid. 1609, 4to): — De la Perfeccion Cristiana (ibid. 1612-16, 4 vols. 4to): — Vida del D. Balthasar Alvarez (Madrid, 1615, 4to): — Epositio moralis et mystica in Canticum Canticorum (Cologne, 1622, 2 vols. fol.; Paris, 1646, fol.): — Directorio Espiritual (Madrid, 1625, 8vo). He also wrote the first part of Vida Maravillosa de Mirmina de Escobar (ibid. 1665, fol.), which was finished and published by a member of his order, Miguel Orefia. — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Géneralé, s.v. See Antonio, Bibliotheca Hispansa Nova, s.v.