The historian José Eduardo Franco, one of those responsible for the publication of the complete work of Father António Vieira, which is released today, considers that the Jesuit's sermons are of “bombing actuality”.
The director of the Center for Lusophone and European Literatures and Cultures of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Lisbon tells the ECCLESIA Agency that the Jesuit born in 1608 would currently have “a strong intervention and would be a severe critic of many practices that are unacceptable in the times that they run”.
“Vieira's sermons spared no one. He understood that he should denounce and criticize what was wrong and criticized bishops, Popes, kings and princes and in your face, without fear”, stressed the scholar of Father António Vieira for almost 20 years.
The launch of the Complete Work of Father António Vieira will take place in the Aula Magna of the Rectory of the University of Lisbon, from 18:00, with the presence of D. Manuel Clemente, bishop of Porto, and the professor of the University of São Paulo, Adolfo Hansen .
After more than “15 attempts” to complete the edition, a “Portuguese-Brazilian” team made up of specialists and researchers from various disciplines wants to democratize the Jesuit's writings, a task that José Eduardo Franco calls “Global Vieira”.
Until 2014, the edition of 30 volumes is planned, divided into four volumes: Epistolography, Parenética (which includes the Sermons), Prophetic (writings on the future of Portugal, Europe and the world), Varia (letters and opinions and where it is includes a lesser known part of Vieira corresponding to poetry and theater).
The second and third phases of this project present the edition of a multimedia dictionary in print and online for schools and universities, as well as the selection of the best texts by Father António Vieira for publication in 10 languages, from Mandarin to German.
“Editing this work is to draw attention to and sensitize our government and people in general to the importance of culture in its different expressions”, says José Eduardo Franco, who takes charge of the project with philosopher and professor Pedro Calafete.
A interview with José Eduardo Franco will integrate a dossier of the next digital magazine Agência ECCLESIA, dedicated to Father António Vieira.
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