BERLAGE, ANTON

BERLAGE, ANTON. - German theologian of the 19th century, born at Münster in V. on 21 Dec. 1805 and died there on 6 Dec. 1881. From 1824 to 1831 he studied theology successively at Münster, Bonn, Tübingen, and Munich. At Bonn he had Giorgio Hermes as his teacher and was somewhat influenced by his semi-rationalism. He freed himself from it, however, when, having transferred to the University of Tübingen, he was able to hear the professors G. Sebastiano Drey, G. Battista Hirscher, and G. Adamo Mohler. Subsequently, indeed, having deliberately examined the doctrine of Hermes, he judged it worthy of the Church's condemnation. In 1831 he obtained a doctorate in theology at the University of Munich and, while still a subdeacon, began teaching at the University of Münster, which he found in deplorable conditions. There he taught successively apologetics, dogmatics, symbolism, and moral theology. In 1843 he resumed the chair of dogmatic theology and held it for 40 years. He published various pamphlets and articles, but his principal works are: Apologetik der Kirche (Münster 1843) and Katholische Dogmatik (7 vols., ibid. 1839-64). The beneficial influence exercised by B. through his teaching and publications was considerable, especially at the University of Münster, which owed to him, in large measure, its return to Catholic orthodoxy.