FRANZ JAKOB CLEMENS. - A German theologian, born in Koblenz on 4 October 1815, died in Rome on 24 February 1862. After completing his studies, he traveled through Germany and Italy, acquiring a broad education. From 1843 to 1856, he was a privatdocent at the University of Bonn, later becoming an ordinary professor of theology (though a layman) at Münster, where he was highly regarded by students for his method, depth, and doctrinal certainty.
Having fallen ill, he sought recovery in the regions of southern Europe, but he died too soon in Rome. He was buried near the tomb of St. Ignatius, truly deserving to rest beside the apostle of orthodoxy, whom he had defended throughout his life, particularly in his clear writings: *Die speculative Theologie A. Günthers* (Cologne 1853); a rigorous refutation of Günther’s system, which provoked responses from Günther’s followers: Baltzer [v.], Knoedt. Clemens rebutted them with wit in his pamphlet: *De scholiatorum sententia philosophiam esse ancillam theologiae* (Munster 1856), where he masterfully delineated the relationship between philosophy and theology. To defend his position, he later engaged Kuhn (v.).
A man of holy life, he promoted the spread of the Conferences of Vincent de Paul.