ECK, JOHANN. - Theologian and anti-Lutheran polemicist, b. at Egg, in Swabia, on 15 November 1486, d. at Ingolstadt on 10 February 1543. His surname was Maier, but he is better known by the appellation of E., which he chose himself and derived from his place of origin. He studied at various universities (Heidelberg, Tübingen, Cologne, Freiburg) and took his degree in theology in 1510. In 1508 he had become a priest. Called to teach theology at Ingolstadt, he held that chair for 32 years, and there he also held the office of dean and of rector, from 1512 of chancellor, and finally also of academic parish priest. Through his astonishing activity and his solid doctrine he was the principal support of Catholicism in Bavaria. A resolute and tenacious adversary of Luther, he urged his condemnation from Rome. In 1520 Leo X entrusted the publication of the bull Exurge to Girolamo Aleandro (v.) and to E., who was named protonotary for this purpose. E. was accredited to many German bishops and princes. His mission was extremely difficult and delicate; he employed every means to succeed in his aim, enduring hardships, persecutions, insults and calumnies. In March 1523 he was again in Rome on political-ecclesiastical business of the dukes of Bavaria, but he 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 above all with the Pope, he demanded extensive reforms in Rome itself; in his memorial, without any reticence, he laid bare the abuses existing in the Curia and gave a vivid portrait of the intrigues of the hunters of benefices. In 1526 he also went to Switzerland to take part in a disputation against Zwingli. For his ardor in combat, Card. Pole (v.) rightly called him the "Achilles of the Catholics."
His publications are numerous, and all of them, if one excepts the hasty translation of the Bible into German, compel the attention of the scholar. The principal ones are: Chrysopassus praedestinationis (Augsburg 1514); De primatu Petri (Ingolstadt 1520); De paenitentia et confessione secreta (s. l. 1523); De Purgatorio (Rome 1523); De Satisfactione (ibid. 1523); De initio paenitentiae (ibid. 1523) and above all the Enchiridion locorum communium (Landshut 1525) and the De Sacrificio Missae (ibid. 1527). Cf. H. Jedin, Storia del Concilio di Trento, Ital. trans., I, Brescia 1949 (see index).
Bibliography5 works
Francesco Spadafora