Manuscript version of the only contemporary source on the life and death of the Córdoban Jesuit Juan de Santiago (1689-1762). It follows a work by the same name by Vincent Morales (1708-1765), which was probably published for the first time in 1763 in Córdoba. The copper engraving in the present manuscript likely comes from this edition. Judging from the ownership annotation, the present manuscript was also made in Córdoba, probably for a local university or convent. It contains an extra paragraph at the end about a feast held in honour of Juan de Santiago, including 6 epigrams written for him. This part is not present in the printed versions of this work.
Juan de Santiago was born in Écija. He became known as the "niño de la razón", because he loved to study. He entered the Jesuit College at Sevilla at a young age. When he was ordained, he moved to Córdoba College, where he stayed for 40 years. He was a model of holiness and many miracles were attributed to him. One of these occurred when he put out his hand to a blind woman who tried to enter the church, and said: "Come in and take a good look." Upon which the woman cried "I see it, I have recovered my sight." Throughout his life he was much loved in Córdoba because he helped and advised a great number of inhabitants. When he died, there was an enormous grieving crowd in town and the City Council ordered that one of the 3 keys of his coffin should be kept in the city archive. The work by Morales was written at the request of the grieving Córdobans.
With a crossed out ownership annotation on the verso of the title page. The parchment is stained and wrinkled, with a few small holes, and is somewhat smaller than the paper leaves. The borders of the first two leaves are frayed, the manuscript is somewhat stained throughout. Cf. De Backer-Sommervogel (1894) V, 1284 (printed ed.).