Casal (or Cazal), Gaspar De

Casal (or Cazal), Gaspar de a Portuguese prelate, was born at Santarem in 1510. In 1524 he entered the Augustinian order and taught philosophy at Lisbon and at the University of Coimbra. Having received the degree of D.D. in 1542, he was chosen by John III, in 1551, as confessor of the Infant John, and soon after was called to be confessor and counselor of the king himself. In 1550 he was appointed to the see of Funchal, in Madeira, which he held till Aug. 9,1555, and then resigned it, without having visited his diocese. He was afterwards made bishop of Coimbra. He assisted at the Council of Trent, and became conspicuous for his wisdom and learning. He wrote, concerning the affairs of the council, De Caena et Calice Domini (Venice, 1563). The cathedral of Leiria was built at his expense, the first stone of which was laid Aug. 11, 1559. He died Aug. 9, 1587, leaving several works of theology and erudition; among them, Axiomsata Christiana (Coimbra, 1550; Venice, 1563): —De Sacrificio Missee et SS. Eucharistio Celebratione (Venice, 1563; Antwerp, 1566): —De Justitia (1563, 4 vols.): —also a commentary on the Topics of Aristotle, and Carta a Rainha D. Catharine, which was printed in the Memoirs of Barbosa. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Géneralé, s, v.; Landon, Eccles. Dict. s v.; Antonii

Bibl. Hisp. Nova, 1, 522 sq.; Keller, in Wetzer u. Welte's Kirchen- Lexikon, s.v.; Jocher, Allgemeines Gelehrten Lexikon, s.v. (B. P.)