ATIENZA, JUAN DE

Jesuit educator and collaborator with Toribio de mogrovejo; b. Valladolid or possibly Tordehumos, 1544; d. Lima, 1592. He studied Canon Law for two years and entered the Society of Jesus at Salamanca on May 1, 1564. He made his profession of three vows on September 14, 1570, and of four vows on June 5, 1580. He was professor of philosophy in Avila, rector of San Ambrosio at Valladolid, and rector and master of novices at Villagarcía de Campos (Valladolid). In 1581 he went to Peru, where he founded the Colegio de San Martín in Lima and wrote its constitution. He was rector of the major seminary of San Pablo in Lima and participated in the third and fourth provincial councils of Lima. During his term as provincial, beginning in 1585, the society spread itself through Tucumán, the Chaco, and Paraguay. The Archbishop of Lima, Toribio de Mogrovejo, greatly esteemed him for his prudence and his knowledge of ecclesiastical law. Atienza was concerned during his term as provincial with two main questions of government: the internal discipline of the province, and the organization of the missions already established and expansion to new areas. Acting little for public acclaim, he concentrated on creating and directing significant works, guided by his knowledge and his experience of the South American situation.

Bibliography: a. astrain, Historia de la Compañía de Jesús en la asistencia de España, 7 v. (Madrid 1902–25).

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