He was born in 1628 near Muniesa (Teruel), in Aragon, a village around south of Zaragoza. His birthdate is unknown, but church records indicate he was baptised on 29 June 1628. He moved to Valencia in his youth and undertook religious education with the Jesuits there at the College of St Paul. He was ordained in 1652, and seemingly took his doctorate shortly thereafter at Coimbra. He held a benefice in the church of Santo Tomas and was confessor to a community of nuns.