Mausbach, Joseph

MAUSBACH, JOSEPH. - Moral theologian and apologist, b. at Wipperfeld on 7 Feb. 1861, d. at Ahrweiler on 31 Jan. 1931. After some years of pastoral ministry in Cologne, from 1892 until his death he was ordinary professor of moral theology and apologetics at the University of Münster. His teaching, owing to his profound knowledge of the great masters, in particular of St. Augustine and St. Thomas, and to his sensitivity to modern problems, was attended also by students from other faculties. M. was esteemed as a master at Catholic meetings and congresses.

Of his vast scholarly output, which comprises 35 studies and 94 lectures and papers, the following are noteworthy: Die Ethik des hl. Augustinus (Freiburg im Br. 1909; 2nd ed. ibid. 1929 in 2 vols.); Die katholische Moral, ihre Methoden, Grundsätze und Aufgaben (Cologne 1911), a work that appeared in its 5th ed. under the title Die katholische Moral und ihre Gegner (ibid. 1921); Grundzüge der katholische Apologetik (Münster 1916; 6th ed. ibid. 1934 edited by G. Wunderle); Katholische Moraltheologie (Münster 1915-18; 7th ed. ibid. 1934 edited by G. Tischleder, M.'s successor in the chair of Moral Theology, in 3 vols.); Thomas von Aquin als Meister christlicher Sittenlehre (Munich-Rome 1925); Dasein und Wesen Gottes (Münster 1929-30, in 2 vols.).

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