ELBEL, BENJAMIN. – Franciscan, moral theologian, born in 1690 at Friedberg in Bavaria, died on 4 June 1756 at Soefingen near Ulm. Lecturer in theology and, from 1735 to 1738, provincial of Strasbourg. A probabilist, esteemed for the soundness of his doctrine and the richness of his casuistry.
Writings: Theologia moralis decalogolis et sacramentalis
per meatum confrontativum casibus practicis illustrata (1st ed.
Venetia 1731; new eds. by I. Bierbaum, Paderborn 1890,
1892, 1904); Ortus et progressus O. Min. S. Fr. ultra
quinque saccula (Monaco 1732).
BIBL.: Hutter, IV, col. 1633; F. Lauchert, s. V. in Allg-
dentsche Biogr., XLVIII, p. 329; K. Hilgenveiner, s. V. in
LThK. III, col. 616. Jaroslav Skarvada