HURTER, HUGO ADALBERT. - Jesuit, theologian and historian of theology, b. at Schaffhausen on 11 Jan. 1832, d. at Innsbruck on 10 Dec. 1914. A Protestant, he followed his father Frederick in conversion (Rome 1845); a priest in 1855, a Jesuit in 1857, he was from 1858 to 1912 professor of dogmatic theology at Innsbruck. In the period 1887-90 he was also rector of the «Canisianum».
The principal works, which cause him to be numbered among the most important theologians of his times, are: Theologiae dogmaticae compendium (3 vols., Innsbruck 1876-78; 12th ed. ibid. 1909), solid, clear, well ordered, among the most widely circulated; later reduced into a compendium: Medulla theologiae dogmaticae (ibid. 1879); and above all the Nomenclator litterarius theologiae catholicae, first in 3 vols. (ibid. 1871-1886), which began from the post-Tridentine period; then in a 2nd ed. of 4 vols. (ibid. 1891-92), which went back as far as 1109; then in a 3rd ed. of 5 vols. (ibid. 1903-13), which go back as far as the earliest patristic age. The work is to date irreplaceable and analyzes a vast series of authors, dividing them by historical epochs, by nation and by subject, with copious notes and bibliographical citations. He also edited the edition: SS. Patrum opuscula selecta (54 vols., ibid. 1868-92), enriching it with useful notes and dissertations.
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