KNOLL, ALBERTO da BOLZANO. — Capuchin theologian and preacher of the province of Tyrol, born in Brunico on 12 July 1796, died in Bolzano on 30 March 1863. Ordained a priest, he donned the religious habit on 21 November 1818; he was general definitor (1847–53).
The fruit of twenty-four years of teaching at Merano, beginning in 1823, is the Institutiones theologiae dogmaticae generalis seu fundamentalis (Innsbruck 1852; 2nd ed., Turin 1861, reprinted several times; ed. revised by E. Morandi, there 1892 [5th ed., there 1904]; ed. recast by Fr. Norberto da Tux, 2 vols., Bressanone 1890); these were followed by the extensive Institutiones theologiae theoreticae seu dogmatico-polentiae (6 vols., Turin 1853–59, 7th ed. there 1883), which the author himself abridged in the Compendium (2 vols., there 1863; Innsbruck 1865; Turin 1865, reprinted several times and revised in 1892 by E. Morandi); his confrère Fr. Goffredo da Graun prepared a recasting of it in 3 vols. (Innsbruck 1893–96). From these works the Belgian Capuchin Gonzalvo da Reeth derived a Manuale theologiae dogmaticae (2 vols., Tournai 1890). His Expositio regulae Fratrum Minorum (Innsbruck 1859, Naples 1853, Florence 1864) is considered official for the Friars Minor Capuchin and was revised under the direction of the superiors general (Milan 1889, Rome 1932; Italian translation, Bologna 1942).
He was zealous in the priestly ministry, especially in preaching, of which the posthumous Predigten für die Sonntage (Bressanone 1867; 2nd ed. there 1871; Italian translation, 2 vols., Turin 1870–71; 2nd ed. there 1875–76) and Predigten für die Festtage (Bressanone 1870, 2nd ed. there 1874; Italian translation, 2 vols., Turin 1873) remain as evidence.
BBL.: Joannes M. a Ratisbona, Catalogus scriptorum Ord. Min. Cappuccinorum (1747-1852), Rome 1852, pp. 10–11; A. Hohenegger, Das Kapuziner-Kloster zu Meran, Innsbruck 1898, pp. 174–82; E. d'Alençon, s. V. in DThC, I, cols. 664–66. Ilarino da Milano