KATSCHTHALER, JOHANNES. - Theologian and cardinal, b. 29 May 1832 at Hippach (diocese of Bressanone), d. at Salzburg on 27 Feb. 1914. Having graduated in theology from the faculty attached to the Seminary, he held there the chair of dogmatics until 1874, when he moved to the University of Innsbruck as professor of the history of dogmas and apologetics.
Appointed a canon of the Salzburg metropolitan chapter in 1880 and, shortly thereafter, rector of the Seminary, in 1891 he was chosen by Card. Haller as coadjutor and was consecrated titular bishop of Cibistro. He
A man of great learning and of remarkable scholarly and pastoral activity, he left many writings of a theological, apologetic, oratorical, and musical nature. His fame rests on the Theologia dogmatica catholica specialis (5 vols., Regensburg 1877–88), in which he combines orthodoxy of doctrine with abundant erudition and clarity of style. His Geschichte der Kirchenmusik (n.p. 1893, Italian trans. by P. Guerrini, Turin 1926), which he wrote in the form of articles while director of the Kirchenmusikalische Vierteljahrschrift, is highly esteemed and widely circulated.