COMMER, ERNST. - Philosopher and Neo-Thomist theologian, b. in Berlin on 18 Feb. 1847, d. in Graz on 24 Apr. 1928. He taught philosophy at Ratisbon and at Liverpool, apologetics and moral theology at the Royal Academy of Münster (1884-88), dogmatic theology at the University of Breslau (1888-1900) and at that of Vienna (1900-10).
Principal works: *System der Philosophie* (4 vols., Münster-Paderborn 1883-85); *Die Kirche in ihrem Wesen und Leben dargestellt* (Vienna 1904); *Retecio de Matris Dei mun-ner* (ibid. 1906); *H. Schell und der fortschrittliche Katholizismus* (ibid. 1907). C. was the first to subject the theories of Schell and reformist Catholics to rigorous examination and played a significant role in the ensuing controversy. His principal merit was the founding of a Thomist journal for German-speaking countries, the *Jahrbuch für Philosophie und spekulative Theologie* (Münster 1886), continued in Vienna from 1914 under the name *Divus Thomas*.
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