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[German Version] (Mar 27, 1562, Markdorf – Jan 18, 1625, Ingolstadt), SJ (1679), a controversial theologian. He taught initially at the Jesuit gymnasia in Freiburg, Switzerland and Ingolstadt; after 1589, he was professor of philosophy, then of scholastic theology (1592–1605) and moral theology in Ingolstadt (1610–1615). After the departure of his teacher Gregory of Valencia, he was the leader of the Jesuits in Bavaria and adviser to the dukes (i.e. the Bavarian elector). He harshly persecuted all…

[German Version] (Sep 16, 1730, Lohr – Feb 14, 1795, Würzburg) was the pro-reform prince-bishop of Würzburg and Bamberg. Under the bishop of Würzburg, Adam Friedrich v. Seinsheim, he became president of the secular administration of the diocese in 1763. In 1767 Joseph II called him to visit the Imperial Supreme Court in Wetzlar and in 1775 the continuing Reichstag at Regensburg. …

[German Version] (Jul 10, 1607, Bourges – Mar 17, 1667, Paris), French Jesuit (1623), theologian, philologist, and editor of sources pertaining to church history. After lecturing in Caen, Bourges, and Paris, Labbé worked mainly as an author. An erudite compiler with many interests (geography, chronology, patristics, Byzantine studies), he wrote more than 80 works and was regarded as one of the leading scholars of his time. His most important publication is the compilation of the acts of the counci…

[German Version] (Aug 25, 1619, Aix-en-Provence – Dec 24, 1695, Paris), Catholic theologian and canonist. He joined the Oratorians in 1633 and served as professor of theology at Saumur (1648) and Paris (1653). Removed from his teaching duties on account of doctrinal differences, after 1673 he devoted himself to historical studies, primarily applying historical methods to the study of canon law. Rolf Decot Bibliography P. Clair, Louis Thomassin, 1964 (bibl.; Fr.) F.J. Busch, Lex Christi secundum naturam, 1975 (Ger.) H.J. Sieben, Die katholische Konzilsidee von der Reformation…

[German Version] (Jun 26, 1576, Pappenberg – Oct 18 1649, Padua), polymath, late Humanist, phi­lologist, controversial theologian, jurisprudent, and politician. The son of a Protestant pastor, he converted to Catholicism in Prague in 1598. In Rome from 1598 to 1607, he cultivated ties with the pope and the Curia. He was sent on several diplomatic missions in Germany and Italy on behalf of the Habsburgs, the Wittelsbachs, and the Curia. He wrote polemics against various ¶ schools of Protestantism. Around 1630, after the emperor’s victory in the Thirty Years War, Schoppe …

[German Version] (c. 1533, Casas de la Reina, Estremadura, Spain – Jan 5, 1583, Rome), Jesuit (1562) theologian and exegete. As a professor at the Jesuit college in Paris (1565), he turned his back on Scholasticism and developed a positive theology based on the Bible. His influence was impaired by accusations of ¶ heresy regarding the Immaculate Conception and purgatory. Despite opposition, Maldonado was very popular and successful, not least in debate with the Calvinists. In Rome he helped shape the Jesuit Ratio studiorum and was a member of the pontifical commission for the …

[German Version] (Petau; Aug 21, 1583, Orléans – Dec 11, 1652, Paris), French Jesuit (from 1605). Initially Petavius taught rhetoric in Reims, La Flèche, and Paris; from 1621 to 1644 he was professor of theology at the Collège de Clermont in Paris. He published significant editions of patristic texts (Synesius of Cyrene, Epiphanius of Salamis) and important studies on chronology. His major work, Theologica dogmatica, which bases the church’s teaching on Scripture and tradition, earned him a reputation as a pioneer of positive theology. He also wrote polemica…

[German Version] (Dec 6, 1835, Unterfinnigen – May 4, 1904, Ursberg), Catholic priest (1864), founder of the St. Joseph Congregation of Sisters (Joseph, Orders of Saint) for nursing, education, and teaching. In the secularized monastery of Ursberg, Ringeisen created in 1884 an institution for the care of the mentally handicapped, the so-called deaf and dumb, and the physically disabled. Further institutions were set up at Pfaffenhofen (1885), Bildhausen (1897), and Krönenbach (1901). Ringeisen is regarded as an initiator of support for the disabled in Bavaria. Rolf Decot Bibliogra…

[German Version] (papacy Sep 21, 1676 – Aug 12, 1689) (Benedetto Odescalchi, b. May 19, 1611, in Como). Odescalchi, made cardinal in 1645, served as legate in Ferrara from 1646 to 1650 and as bishop of Novara from 1650 to 1656. He was renowned for his exemplary lifestyle and concern for the poor. After a two-month conclave, he was unanimously elected pope in 1676, after the resistance of France, who had opposed him in 1670, was overcome. Within the church, he sought a middle way in the controversy…

[German Version] (May 31, 1732, Vienna – May 20, 1812, ibid.) was the last prince-archbishop of Salzburg. His family (his father, and later his brother, were imperial vice-chancellors) secured his accession to ecclesiastical positions from early on: cathedral canon in Salzburg in 1747, auditor of the Rota in Rome in 1759, bishop of Gurk by appointment of Maria Theresia in 1761. In the latter function, his administration was marked by reform-Catholic tendencies. Elected a…

[German Version] (May 14, 1572 – Apr 10, 1586; Ugo Buoncompagni, b. Jan 7, 1502, Bologna). Professor of canon law in Bologna (1531–1539), and member of the curia from 1539, which sent him to the Council of Trent (1546; 1561–1563). He became bishop of Viesti in 1558, and cardinal and legate in Spain in 1565. Elected in 1572 with Spanish support, he became the pope of the Counter-Reformation and of Catholic reform. He promoted the consolidation of the Catholic church throughout Europe: in France (Hu…

[English Version] Walenburch, Adrian (23.5.1609 Rotterdam – 12.9.1669 Wiesbaden) und Peter van (1610 Rotterdam – 21.12.1675 Köln). Kontroverstheologen, Weihbfe. Nach ihrem Rechtsstudium in Angers veranlaßte Nuntius Fabio Chigi sie 1541, ins konfessionell labile Herzogtum Jülich-Berg zu gehen. Ab 1645 in Köln, wurde Adrian Domkanoniker (1647), Offizial (1648) und Weihbf. (1661). Peter wurde Auditor an der Nuntiatur. 1658 holte ihn Johann Philipp von Schönborn als Weihbf. nach Mainz. Hier bemühte er sich u…

[English Version] Stensen, Nils (11.1.1638 Kopenhagen – 5.12.1686 Schwerin), studierte Sprachen, Anatomie und Mathematik in Kopenhagen, Amsterdam und Leiden. Anatomische Entdeckungen verschafften ihm früh den Ruf eines Wissenschaftlers. Seit 1666 war er Arzt am Hof von Florenz, wo er zum Katholizismus konvertierte. Auf Forschungsreisen gewonnene Erkenntnisse ließen ihn zum Mitbegründer der wiss. Geologie, Paläontologie und Kristallographie werden. Nach seiner Priesterweihe (1675) wurde er Apostolis…

[English Version] Oberthür, Franz (6.8.1745 Würzburg – 30.8.1831 ebd.), Priester 1769; Prof. für Dogmatik und Dogmengesch. in Würzburg 1773–1809 (im Zuge der Säkularisation 1803 vorübergehend amtsenthoben); Kanoniker am Stift Hauck 1774; Domkapitular 1821; Bayrischer Geheimer Rat 1829. O. vf. theol. Handbücher und Enzyklopädien, lokalhist. Schriften und war Hg. von Kirchenvätertexten. Weniger spekulativ veranlagt und vom Geist der Aufklärung beeinflußt, betonte er die Humanitätsidee und das Prinzip…

[English Version] Saint-Martin, Louis-Claude de (18.1.1743 Amboise, Département Indre-et-Loire – 13.10.1803 Paris), franz. Theosoph (Theosophie). Nach juristischen Studien und einer militärischen Laufbahn lernte er um 1771 in Bordeaux Martinez de Pasqualis (1715–1779) kennen, der ihn ins myst. Freimaurertum (Freimaurer) einführte. In dieser Vereinigung der »Martinisten« mit Zentrum in Lyon pflegte man eine aus kabbalistischen Quellen (Kabbala: III.) gespeiste Mystik, in der magische und theurgische …

[English Version] Ringeisen, Dominikus (6.12.1835 Unterfinnigen – 4.5.1904 Ursberg), kath. Priester (1864), Gründer der Schwesternkongregation St. Joseph (Joseph, Orden vom Heiligen Joseph) für Pflege, Erziehung und Unterricht. Im säkularisierten Kloster Ursberg schuf er 1884 eine Pflegeanstalt für Geistesschwache, sog. Taubstumme und Körperbehinderte. Weitere Anstalten: Pfaffenhofen (1885), Bildhausen (1897), Krönenbach (1901). Er gilt als ein Initiator der Behindertenhilfe in Bayern. Rolf Decot Bibliography J. Pemsel, R., 1904 F.X. Kerer, D.R. von Ursberg, 219…

[English Version] Ulenberg, Kaspar (2.1.1549 Lippstadt – 16.2.1615 Köln), kath. Theologe, Bibelübers. und Psalmendichter. Nach Studien in Wittenberg konvertierte er 1572 vom Luthertum zum Katholizismus. Pfarrer in Kaiserswerth (1576–1583), Köln (1583–1594), ebd. Regens am Laurentianum (1592–1611), Rektor der Universität (1610–1612). Durch viele katechetische Schriften wirkte er gegenreformatorisch. Seine Bibelübers. (Druck 1630) erlangte überarbeitet als »Mainzer Bibel« (1662) weite Verbreitung. Gr…

[English Version] (Petau), Dionysius (21.8.1583 Orle´ans – 11.12.1652 Paris). Franz. Jesuit (seit 1605). P. lehrte zunächst Rhetorik in Reims, La Fle´che und Paris; von 1621–1644 war er Prof. für Theol. am Colle`ge de Clermont in Paris. Bedeutend sind seine Editionen (Synesius von Cyrene, Epiphanius von Salamis) und seine Arbeiten zur Chronologie. Sein Hauptwerk »Theologica Dogmata« verweist die kirchl. Lehre auf Schrift und Tradition und trug ihm den Ruf eines Begründers der positiven Theologie ei…

[English Version] Scioppius, Gaspar (Kaspar Schoppe; 26.6.1576 Pappenberg – 18.10.1649 Padua), vielseitiger Späthumanist, Philologe, Kontroverstheologe, Jurist, Politiker. Aus prot. Pastorenfamilie stammend, konvertierte er 1598 in Prag zur kath. Kirche. 1598–1607 knüpfte er in Rom Beziehungen zu Papst und Kurie. Er war auf verschiedenen diplomatischen Missionen im Dienst der Habsburger, Wittelsbacher und der Kurie in Deutschland und Italien tätig. In polemischen Schriften wandte er sich gegen unte…

[English Version] Sirmond, Jacques (12.10.1559 Riom – 7.10.1651 Paris). Franz. Jesuit (1576), 1581–1590 Lehrer in Pont-à-Mousson und Paris (hier war u.a. Franz von Sales sein Schüler). 1590–1608 in Rom als Sekretär des Jesuitengenerals C. Aquaviva und Mitarbeiter des C. Baronius. Seit 1617 Rektor des Collège de Clermont in Paris. Von 1637–1643 Beichtvater Ludwigs XIII. Als Gelehrter vf. er hist. und dogmengesch. Werke. Er unterschied zw. Dionysius von Paris und Dionysius Areopagita, schrieb über Pr…