Almeida (Dom Friar Gabriel de)
Original title: Almeida (D. Fr. Gabriel de)
Biography of D. Frei Gabriel de Almeida, Cistercian monk and bishop of Funchal from 1671 until his death in 1674. His short episcopate was troubled by disputes with the governor, the Franciscans and some of the secular clergy.
Bishop Gabriel de Almeida
After Funchal Cathedral (Sé) had been vacant for 20 years, the prelate Dom Jerónimo Fernando was succeeded in the government of this diocese by Bishop Dom Friar Gabriel de Almeida. His episcopate was short: he was consecrated in 1671 and took possession of the bishopric on 4 March of the same year, and he died in this city on 12 July 1674.
He belonged to the Order of St Bernard and was abbot general of Alcobaça and professor of theology at the University of Coimbra (Universidade de Coimbra), and he held other important posts.
Although he took charge of this diocese at a fairly advanced age, he was always zealous in fulfilling his duties as prelate, making pastoral visitations to many parish churches, among them that of the island of Porto Santo (‘holy harbour’). Nevertheless, his episcopal administration was interrupted by serious difficulties arising from the disputes between him and the governor and captain-general. The same happened with the Franciscan friars and some members of the secular clergy, and this is said to have helped to shorten his life.
If we are to believe the author of the curious work Monstruosidades do Tempo e da Fortuna, written two centuries ago and published a few years ago, Dom Friar Gabriel de Almeida was harsh and brusque by nature and failed to win the sympathy of those who approached him. This, together with his advanced age and the ailments from which he suffered, sufficiently explains the friction he caused in governing the bishopric and the sorrows that troubled the last years of his life.
After a short illness he died in Funchal on 12 July 1674 and lies buried in the choir of the Cathedral (Sé Catedral). He was the second bishop to die in Madeira and be buried there.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 02Place
Places mentioned · 05
Abroad
- Alcobaça
Portugal. Cistercian abbey of which Gabriel de Almeida was abbot general.
Cistercian abbey of which Gabriel de Almeida was abbot general.
- Funchal
Seat of the diocese that Gabriel de Almeida governed, and the city where he died.
The capital of the archipelago and seat of the principal captaincy, where settlement began; it was made a vila c.1451–52. Its bay, the widest in the archipelago, lies between Ponta do Garajau and Ponta da Cruz and offers sheltered anchorage, though its harbour had never been studied oceanographically. The Elucidário discusses it as a health resort with climate data and records the January 1906 disturbances, the Danish prince's visit in May 1846 and recent volcanic cones in the area.
- Funchal Cathedral (the Sé)
Funchal. Cathedral in whose choir Gabriel de Almeida is buried.
The Sé do Funchal is the cathedral of Funchal, in the parish of Sé. It was begun in 1493, became a parish seat in 1508 and a cathedral in 1514. It was the starting point of processions and the place of the vow to São Tiago, and bishops are buried there.
- Porto Santo
Island whose parish church Gabriel de Almeida visited as bishop.
An island of the archipelago, settled alongside Madeira and forming one of the three captaincies. It has always constituted a single parish, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Piedade, whose church was repeatedly sacked. The Elucidário records the Moorish pirate raid of 1617, its own Misericórdia and a rainwater channel built on this drought-prone island.
- University of Coimbra
Portugal. University where Gabriel de Almeida taught theology.
The University of Coimbra, in mainland Portugal, was supported by Madeira through tithes and attended by many Madeirans. Several of them graduated there, mostly in law, and others, such as António da Gama and Vitúrio Lopes Rocha, also taught there. Júlio Augusto Henriques held its chair of botany.
People
People mentioned · 02- D. Fr. Gabriel de Almeidad. 1674
Cistercian monk, abbot general of Alcobaça and professor of theology at Coimbra, who was bishop of Funchal from 1671 until his death in 1674.
- D. Jerónimo Fernandod. 1650
Bishop of Funchal whose successor, Gabriel de Almeida, took office only after the see had been vacant for 20 years.