MOLINOS, Miguel de (1627-c . 1696), a Spanish priest whose name is intimately associated with that type of religion known in Italy and Spain during the latter half of the 17 th century as Quietism, was born of good family in the diocese of Saragossa, on 21st December 1627. Having entered the priesthood, he settled about his fortieth year in Rome, where he speedily rose to high repute as a father confessor, and gained many distinguished friends, among whom were several cardinals, including Odescalchi (afterwards Innocent XI., 1676). In 1675 he published at Rome a small duodecimo volume entitled Guida spirituale ehe disinvolge l ’ anima e la conduce per l ’ interior camino all ’ acquisto della perfetta contemplazione e del ricco tesoro della pace interiore, which was soon afterwards followed by the Breve trattato della cottidiana communione, usually bound up with it in later editions. The work, which breathes a spirit of simple and earnest piety, is designed to show how inward peace may be found by what may be called contemplative or passive prayer, by obedience, by frequent communion, and by inward mortification; it was widely circulated, and greatly increased the popularity of its author, whom Innocent XI. after his elevation provided with rooms in the Vatican, and is said to have also taken as his spiritual director. Its doctrine of the passivity of the highest contemplation and purest prayer does not appear to have raised the slightest discussion until after the publication, in 1681, of the Concordia tra la fatica e la quiete nell ’ oratione, by the Jesuit preacher, Paolo Segneri. Although scrupulously refraining from any mention of the name of Molinos, and indeed displaying considerable moderation as a controversialist, Segneri by this tract and by another ...