DREXEL (Drexelius), JEREMIAS. - Jesuit, writer on asceticism, b. 15 Aug. 1581 in Augsburg to Protestant parents; d. in Munich on 18 Apr. 1638. Having lost his father, he became a Catholic; in 1598 he entered the Society of Jesus and was a professor in Munich and Augsburg and from 1615 a preacher at the court of Duke Maximilian of Bavaria.

D. distinguished himself as an elegant orator, of original form, dense with doctrine; and for 23 years he was heard with great acclaim. The effectiveness of his oratory was increased by the example of his life. In order to benefit more greatly the numerous public that crowded his pulpit, D. reduced many subjects of his preaching into ascetic pamphlets, which had great diffusion. In the years from 1620 to 1639 alone, 21 of his writings came to light, with an overall print run of 158,700 copies. To these were added the re-editions abroad with many versions in the principal languages. His most important work was the Deliciae gentis humanae, in 3 vols. (Munich 1638). The pamphlets De aeternitate considerationes (ibid. 1620), which in only 4 years had 9 reprints, and the Zodiacus Christianus beniphratus seu signa duodecim Divinae praedestinationis (ibid. 1622) also enjoyed vast success.

Bibliography2 works

BIBL.: Sommervogel, III, coll. 181-205; G. Duhr, Geschichte der Jesuiten in den Ländern deutscher Zunge, II, II, Freiburg im Br. 1913, pp. 444-50 (see also index).

Arnaldo Lanz

@incollection{ec4_drexel_drexelius_jeremias, author = {Lanz, Arnaldo Maria}, title = {Drexel (Drexelius), jeremias}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {IV}, pages = {1927--1928}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1950}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/drexel-drexelius-jeremias} }

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Drexel (Drexelius), Jeremias

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