AMORT, Eusebius. — German theologian of the 18th century, born at Bibermühle, near Tölz, in Bavaria, on 15 Nov. 1692, died on 5 Feb. 1775. While still young, he entered the Order of the Canons Regular of the Lateran at Polling. In 1717 he was appointed professor of philosophy and later of theology, teaching these disciplines along with canon law for several years in the school of the abbey. As theologian to Cardinal Lercari (1733–33), he had the opportunity to meet many notable figures. Returning to Polling, he devoted himself with indefatigable zeal for forty years to his favorite studies.
Amort wrote extensively, not only on ecclesiastical subjects. As early as 1722 he founded a journal: *Parnassus boicus*, of a scientific-literary character. As a moralist, he is regarded, together with St. Alphonsus Liguori, as the founder of equiprobabilism, and for this he engaged in many controversies. His writings on this subject include *Controversiae novae morales* (Augsburg 1749) and *Disquisitiones dogmaticae de controversiis in theologia morali insignibus* (Venice 1745), and more especially: *Theologia moralis inter rigorem et laxitatem media* (ibid. 1757). Among his other works worthy of note are: *Theologia eclectica, moralis et scholastica* (Augsburg 1752 and Bologna 1753); *Elementa juris canonici veteris et moderni* (Ulm 1757). Of versatile intellect, more erudite than profound, Amort also wrote on mystical theology. Today, his most esteemed work, for the valuable information it preserves, is *Vetus siciliana canonicorum regularium et saecularium ex documentis ineditis usque ad saeculum XVII critice et moraliter expensa* (Venice 1748).
BIBL. F.-X. Baader, *Das gelehrte Bayern*, Nuremberg 1804; Hurter, III, p. 201; C. Toussaint, s. V. in DTHC, I, cols. 1115–116; J. Pietisch, s. V. in DHG, II, cols. 1332–133.