Para ler e compreender os sermões de Antônio Vieira (1608-1697)

Abstract

In the Baroque century, sermons were almost mandatory literature. It is no coincidence that preachers assumed roles of significant importance on the European and overseas scenes. In this context, the sermons of Father Antônio Vieira, a Jesuit whose performance demonstrated the notable role of history for that century, as the great magistra vitae, gained prominence. A renowned writer and preacher, Vieira made shrewd use of varied resources from the Portuguese language, which, added to his historical knowledge, resulted in sermons of significant value for the period, as they announced crucial moments in the history of Portugal. Therefore, this article intends to shed light on some of these moments in Portuguese history, through the use of historical terms and concepts from Vieira's sermons, notably those considered to have a political impact. To this end, we analyzed the sermons of Bons anos or Ano Bom (1642) and Bom Sucesso of the arms of Portugal against those of Holland (1640).