BRUNNER, SEBASTIAN. – Writer, born in Vienna on 10 Dec. 1814, died there on 27 Nov. 1893. Ordained priest in 1838, he preached for some time in the church of the University of Vienna and from 1848 to 1865 was director of the *Kirchenzeitung*. He published numerous articles and various theological, historical, apologetic, and literary works, advocating the right to the freedom of the Church. He vigorously combated, with refined humour, Josephinism.
His principal works are: *Der Predigerorden in Wien und Österreich* (Vienna 1867); *Die theologische Dienerschaft am Hofe Josephs II.* (ibid. 1868); *Die Mysterien der Aufklärung in Österreich* (Magona 1869); *Der Atheist Renan und sein Evangelium* (3rd ed., Paderborn 1868). He also left an interesting autobiography: *Woher? Wohin?* (2 vols., Vienna 1883; 3rd ed., in 5 vols., ibid. 1891).