ABRAMO DA SANTA CHIARA (Abraham a Sancta Clara, in the world Johann Ulrich Megerle). — One of Germany’s greatest popular preachers and moralists, b. at Kreenheimstetten (Baden) on 2 July 1644, d. at Vienna on 1 December 1709. After his initial studies at the Jesuit gymnasium in Ingolstadt (1656–59) and at that of the Benedictines in Salzburg (1659–62), in 1662 he entered the Discalced Augustinians at Maria-Brunn (near Vienna); there he professed his vows on 14 August 1663, taking the name «Abraham a Sancta Clara». Because of the Turkish danger, he began his studies of philosophy and theology in Prague, continuing them in Vienna from 1665. Ordained a priest there on 8 June 1668, he soon distinguished himself as an orator of exceptional talent.
After two years of preaching at the sanctuary of Taxa (near Augsburg in Bavaria), from 1670 to 1672, he was sent to Vienna, where he was vice-prior and prior of the convent (1677–1683). In 1677 Leopold I appointed him preacher to the imperial court («Concionator Aulicus Caesareus»). On the occasion of the plague (1679), he revealed himself as a popular writer of great vigor with his Merk's Wien! (Vienna 1680), a dramatic description of the horrors experienced and a moving admonition to the survivors. From 1683 to 1689 he was in Graz, where, as the Turks approached, he issued the ardent appeal to the Christian world Auff, auff, ihr Christen! (Vienna 1683), which served Schiller as a model for the famous Capuchin’s sermon in Wallensteins Lager (1795). In 1686 he made a first journey to Rome, and another in 1689. On returning to Vienna, he was provincial for three
years. After a third journey to Rome (1692), he spent two years at Maria-Brunn as master of novices and vice-prior, remaining thereafter permanently in Vienna from 1695.
A man of exceptional activity and broad literary culture, endowed with fervent imagination and fruitful inventive originality, a poet, writer, humorist, and at the same time a sound theologian and profound psychologist, A. placed his rare gifts at the service of the apostolate. The charm of his person, the immediacy and vividness of his style, his warm sincerity and fine wit reached the crowds. In his sermons and writings, he employed sacred and profane learning, erudition and personal experience, fables and plays on words (of which he was an unsurpassed master), with the sole aim of the moral elevation of the people.
Among his numerous writings (whose titles themselves reveal their lively vivacity), we shall mention only the principal ones: Reimb dich oder ich liss dich (Salzburg 1684), a collection of sermons and various pamphlets, including Merk's Wien (of which K. Bertsche prepared a new ed., Leipzig 1926), and Auff, auff, ihr Christen! (new ed. prepared by A. Sauer, Vienna 1883). In Judas der Erzschelm (Judas the arch-rogue), in 4 volumes (Salzburg 1686–95), he recounts the affairs of the traitor and draws from them material for moral applications to the most varied circumstances of daily life; Grammatica religiosa... (Salzburg 1691), a collection of exhortations for beginners in the spiritual life, a practical treatise on asceticism; Etwas für alle... (Würzburg 1699); Wunderlicher Traum von einem grossen Narrennest (Salzburg 1703, new ed. by K. Bertsche [Universal-Bibliothek, no. 6399], Leipzig 1923); Heiltames Gemisch-Gemisch... (Würzburg 1704), of which there is an Italian translation (Miscuglio salutare, Trent 1709); Ein Karren voller Narren (Salzburg 1704, new ed. by K. Bertsche [Hausens Bücherei, Band 85], Saarlouis 1919); Huy und Phy der Welt... (Würzburg 1707, Italian trans.: Coraggio e città, Trent 1717); Centifolium stultorum... (Vienna–Nuremberg 1709; new ed. by K. Bertsche, Der Narrenspiegel von Abraham a s. Cl., München-Gladbach 1925); Wohlangefüllter Weinkeller... (Nuremberg 1710); Besonders möblierte und gezierte Totenkapelle (Nuremberg 1719; new ed. by K. Bertsche, München-Gladbach 1922); Geistlicher Kramerladen (2 vols., Würzburg 1710), a collection of sermons. Abrahamisches Bescheidessen... (Vienna 1717) and Laubenhütt... (3 vols., Vienna 1721–23) are collections of sermons left in manuscript by A. and published by Alessandro a Latere Christi, with many alterations and additions.
A complete edition of A.’s works is still lacking. That of Passau–Lindau (1834–54) contains various spurious works, while certain authentic writings, e.g. Centifolium and Totenkapelle, are omitted. A good selection was published by H. Strigl (6 vols., Vienna 1904–1906), while to K. Bertsche, in addition to the editions of individual works already mentioned and various anthologies (Bonn 1911, Freiburg im Br. 1917, 1918, 1922, 1923, Leipzig 1931), we also owe the publication of several recently rediscovered writings: Der geflügelte Merkurius (Hausens Bücherei, Bd. 69, 2nd ed., Saarlouis 1922); Der Urmerkur von 1701 (Schriften zur deutschen Literatur f. d. Görresgesellschaft, Bd. 4); Gedrucktes und Ungedrucktes. Erstmals nach den Handschriften herausg. (Religiöse Quellenschriften..., Heft 49, Düsseldorf 1928); Neun neue Predigten von Abraham a s. Cl. aus der Wiener Hs. cod. 11571 herausg. (Neudrucke deutscher Literatur-Werke des 16. u. 17. Jahrhunderts, nos. 278–81, Halle 1930).