HERRERA, Alonso de

Extremely rare first edition of this Lima-printed work of evangelisation by a Franciscan monk and preacher at the Convent of San Francisco in Trujillo, Peru.
Herrera seeks to answer challenging questions that arise on reading the Gospels, i.e. where there appear to be contradictions or inconsistencies within the scriptures, especially with reference to Advent and the saints. There are in fact four separate sections on Advent, interpolated with other meditations, the first concerned with the dual nature of Christ as both saviour and judge of sinners, with discussion of temporal and eternal sins, the remainder concerning Christ and Saint John the Baptist. Herrera also discusses St. Andrew the Apostle, discussing Christ's decision to elevate 'ignorant fishermen' as disciples and princes of the church, the Immaculate Conception and Christ's genealogy, the Expectation of the Virgin, i.e. Mary's longing for Christ's birth in the final days of her pregnancy, and St. Thomas the Apostle. A final short section discusses the likely hour of Christ's birth and whether it took place at midnight, as traditionally believed. There is a subject index and an index of biblical verses used in the work.