Exhibition "António Vieira, life and literary works"
Centro de Língua Portuguesa/ Instituto Camões in collaboration with the Department of Portuguese, Goa University, is exhibiting a collection of 23 posters titled "Padre António Vieira" as a way of celebrating the 400 years of his birth.
This exhibition shows different aspects of Antonio Vieira's life and the events that took place in Portugal and Brasil during 17th.century that can explain his intellectual importance as a politician and philosopher as well as a speaker and master of language excellence within the Portuguese Literature panorama. Missionary, diplomat, orator, born at Lisbon, 6 February, 1608; died at Bahia, Brasil, 18 July, 1697. Taken when a child to Bahia, Brasil, he studied under the Jesuits and entered the Society of Jesus in 1623. Ordained priest in 1635, he immediately astounded all by his eloquence. Portugal under King John IV, had thrown off the Spanish yoke in 1640 and Vieira was entrusted with different diplomatic missions. Vieira did efficient work in the War and Navy Departments, revived commerce, urged the foundation of a national bank and the organization of the Brazilian Trade Company.
A champion of freedom, he maintained that no citizen should be exempt from taxation, and denounced the severity of the Portuguese Inquisition. After the death of king John IV, Vieira found many enemies at the Court. For his leniency to the converted Jews, for alleged doctrinal errors, for his ultra-patriotic "Sebastianism", and other issues he was condemned by the Portuguese Inquisition, forbidden to preach, and kept a prisoner for two years. António Vieira is one of Portugal's greatest figures in the seventeenth century. A thorough-going Jesuit, Vieira was also a progressive administrator with large and democratic views. His character, though streaked with a vein of extravagance, was of the noblest. He had lofty conceptions, and, in their execution, was independent and bold. He had one dream, to see Portugal the standard-bearer of civilization and Christianity in the old and new world. As a prose writer he is perhaps one of the greatest Portugal has produced. As an orator he is undoubtedly one of the world's masters. He wrote 30 sermons on the Rosary, 18 on Saint Francis Xavier, 14 on the Eucharist. He had mastered the Scriptures, and his interpretations, if forced at times, are always striking. Vieira's works have been frequently published, as for example, "Obras Completas" (Lisbon, 1854), fairly complete with 15 volumes of sermons alone, 500 letters, and philosophical texts.
The exhibition can be visited by all students, members and interested public at the premises of Centro de Lingua Portuguesa/ Instituto Camoes, 4th. - 10th. of February.
On Friday, February 8th. , 06.00p.m., a film titled "The Mission", directed by Roland Joffé, starring Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons, will be shown after an introductory talk to be delivered by Miguel Lume.
On Saturday, February 9th., 05.30 p.m., a film on his life and works titled "Palavra e Utopia", directed by Manoel de Oliveira will also be screened at CLP/IC premises in Panaji: AGVA HOUSE, 9/32 Dr. Dada Vaidya Road. Further information available at the office (Tel: 6647737 ).
