“Se le dé papel, prensa y letras”. Albert O’Farail and the Missionary Book "The Life of the Virgin Marie" (1671-1693)

Abstract

The project of the Irishman Albert O’Farail was conceived as a missionary book. It would be destined to the confessional empress that the Spanish monarchy developed in the British Isles for the beginning of 17th century. The translations of different doctrinal and theological treaties were represented by his particular devotion to the Virgin Marie. All of them tried to approach the religion to the Catholics of the North through mechanism of cultural familiarity as complements of the predication of the spiritual ministers sponsored by Carlos II. The effort for giving this miscellany of works to the presses was financed by the crown and composed by the author himself. It ran in parallel with the dispute of his wife, María Manuela Laínez, for reclaiming her rights over the title of marquis of Mayo. Both in Madrid as well as in Rome, the imbrications of both matters determined their unsuccessful resolution.