LEHMKUHL, AUGUST. - Jesuit, moralist, b. at Hagen (Westphalia) on 23 Sept. 1834, d. at Valkenburg (Holland) on 23 June 1918. Professor of Sacred Scripture and dogmatic theology and later of moral theology at Maria Laach, and after his exile from Germany at Ditton Hall (England), from 1880 he was granted leave to devote himself to his work as a writer.
Besides his collaboration in various cultural periodicals (Stimmen aus Maria Laach, American Ecclesiastical Review, Der Katholik) and in various Catholic encyclopedias, in the field of moral theology his Theologia moralis (2 vols., Freiburg in Br. 1883) is to be remembered, which went through numerous editions and became, so to speak, the standard work for moral theology courses, alongside the Casus conscientiae (2 vols., ibid. 1902), also widely circulated. The principal merit of L. lies in having applied, in a clear and definite manner, the principles of moral theology to the new problems and questions arising in modern times; his advice and opinions were sought and listened to from every part of the world. It may be added: Probabilismus vindicatus (ibid. 1906), a declaration of the system he followed and defended. In the field of sociology he published various writings, all intended not to stifle modern achievements but to channel them along the right path of moral principles: Arbeitsvertrag und Streik (ibid. 1891); Die soziale Not und der kirchliche Einfluss (ibid. 1892); Die soziale Frage und die Staatsgewalt (ibid. 1892); Die internationale Regelung der sozialen Frage (ibid. 1893). In the ascetical field his principal work remains: Der Christ im betrachtenden Gebet (4 vols., ibid. 1916), to which may fittingly be added: Der Herz-Jesu-Monat (ibid. 1861); Der christliche Arbeiter (ibid. 1895); Das Herz des göttlichen Menschenfreundes (ibid. 1900). He also prepared new editions and translations of earlier works; among these may be cited: J. Schneider, Manuale sacerdotum (Ratisbona 1885); L. da Ponte, Meditations (6 vols., Freiburg in Br. 1889-90); J. Reuter, Neoconfessarius (ibid. 1905); he edited the Bibliotheca ascetica mystica, published by Héder in Freiburg.