A mystical Christian movement in 16th-century Spain, known for their emphasis on inner enlightenment and direct experience of God, which led to clashes with the Inquisition.
Religion: Christianity
Denomination: Catholicism
Founded: 16th century
Ended: 17th century
Location: Spain
Other Names: Illuminated Ones
The Alumbrados (Spanish for “Enlightened Ones”) were a mystical Christian movement that emerged in Spain in the 15th-16th centuries. They are notable for their spiritual practices that emphasized inner enlightenment and direct, personal experience of God. This movement, while short-lived, played a significant role in the religious landscape of Spain during a period marked by reform and the Inquisition’s growing influence.
Origins
The Alumbrados originated around the 1520s in Spain, particularly in the regions of Castile and Andalusia. The movement arose amidst the backdrop of the Spanish Inquisition and the beginning of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. Its members were primarily laypeople, including some priests and nuns, who sought a deeper and more personal religious experience beyond the formal rituals and doctrines of the Catholic Church.
Beliefs and Practices
The central tenet of the Alumbrados’ belief system was the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment and union with God. They emphasized the importance of interior prayer and meditation, advocating for an approach to spirituality that was introspective and experiential. Key to their practice was the concept of “recogimiento” (recollection), a form of contemplative prayer focused on inner silence and detachment from the material world.
The Alumbrados believed that through deep contemplation and prayer, individuals could achieve a direct and personal communion with God, leading to a state of spiritual illumination or enlightenment. This experience was characterized by a sense of profound peace, joy, and a feeling of divine presence. They also held that in this state of spiritual union, the soul was guided directly by the Holy Spirit, diminishing the need for traditional religious practices and sacraments.
The Alumbrados also believed that the human soul could reach such a degree of perfection that it could contemplate the essence of God and comprehend the mystery of the Trinity. They held that external worship and sacraments were superfluous, and sin was impossible in a state of complete union with God.
Some of their beliefs were also quite radical, such as the idea that people in a state of union with God could indulge in sexual desires and commit other sinful acts without staining their souls.
Controversy and Conflict with the Inquisition
The unconventional beliefs and practices of the Alumbrados soon attracted the attention of the Spanish Inquisition. Their emphasis on direct personal experience of God and the diminished role of sacraments and church hierarchy were seen as challenging the authority of the Catholic Church. Additionally, their teachings were perceived as having similarities with Lutheran and other Protestant ideas, which were considered heretical in Spain at the time.
The Spanish Inquisition issued edicts against the Alumbrados on three occasions (1568, 1574, and 1623) due to their extravagant claims and practices. In 1525, the Inquisition issued an edict specifically on the Alumbrados, listing forty-eight heretical propositions attributed to them.
Several members of the Alumbrados were investigated by the Inquisition for heresy and apostasy. Prominent figures associated with the movement, such as Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, were also examined by the Inquisition but were ultimately cleared of heretical charges. The Inquisition’s scrutiny led to the suppression of the Alumbrados and the dispersal of their followers.
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