ECK, JOHANN. - Theologian and anti-Lutheran controversialist, born at Egg in Swabia on 15 Nov. 1486, died at Ingolstadt on 10 Feb. 1543. His surname was Maier, but he is better known by the surname E. which he himself adopted and derived from his place of origin. He studied at various universities (Heidelberg, Tübingen, Cologne, Freiburg) and took his doctorate in theology in 1510. In 1508 he had been ordained priest. Called to teach theology at Ingolstadt, he held that chair for 32 years, and also held the offices of dean and rector, from 1512 chancellor, and finally also of academic parish priest. With his remarkable activity and solid learning he was the principal support of Catholicism in Bavaria. A determined and tenacious opponent of Luther, he urged his condemnation from Rome. In 1520 Leo X entrusted the publication of the bull *Exurge* ALESSANDRO (v.) and to E., who was named protonotary for this purpose. E. was accredited to many German bishops and princes. His mission was most difficult and delicate; he used every means to achieve his end, enduring hardships, persecutions, insults and calumnies. In March 1523 he was again in Rome on politico-ecclesiastical business for the dukes of Bavaria, but did not forget the question of reform, which he discussed in detail with Adrian VI.
In agreement with the most illustrious men of the time and especially with the Pope, he demanded extensive reforms at Rome itself; in his memorandum, without any reticence, he laid bare the abuses existing in the Curia and drew a vivid portrait of the intrigues of the simoniacal clergy. In 1526 he also went to Switzerland to take part in a disputation against Zwingli. For his zeal in combating heresy, Cardinal Pole (v.) called him the “Achilles of the Catholics.”
He published numerous works, all of which, with the exception of his hasty German translation of the Bible, demand the attention of the scholar. The principal ones are: *Chrysozopaus praedestinati* (Augsburg 1514); *De primatu Petri* (Ingolstadt 1520); *De paenitentia et confessione secreta* (n.p. 1523); *De Purgatorio* (Rome 1523); *De Satisfactione* (ibid. 1523); *De initio paenitentiae* (ibid. 1523) and especially the *Euchiridion locorum communium* (Landshut 1525) and the *De Sacrificio Missae* (ibid. 1527). Cf. H. Jedin, *Storia del Concilio di Trento*, Italian trans., I, Brescia 1949 (v. index).