MAUSBACH, Joseph. - Moral theologian and apologist, b. at Wipperfeld on 7 Feb. 1861, d. at Ahrweiler on 31 Jan. 1931. After several years of pastoral ministry in Cologne, from 1892 until his death he served as ordinary professor of moral theology and apologetics at the University of Münster. His teaching, marked by profound knowledge of the great masters—especially St Augustine and St Thomas—and by sensitivity to modern problems, attracted students from other faculties as well.
Mausbach was a respected master at Catholic conferences and congresses.
Of his extensive scholarly output, comprising 35 studies and 94 lectures and addresses, the following are especially noteworthy: *Die Ethik des hl. Augustinus* (Freiburg im Br. 1909; 2nd ed. 1929 in 2 vols.); *Die katholische Moral, ihre Methoden, Grundsätze und Aufgaben* (Cologne 1911), which appeared in a 5th ed. under the title *Die katholische Moral und ihre Gegner* (1921); *Grundzüge der katholischen Apologetik* (Münster 1916; 6th ed. 1934 ed. G. Wunderle); *Katholische Moraltheologie* (Münster 1915–18; 7th ed. 1934 ed. G. Tischleder, Mausbach’s successor in the chair of moral theology, in 3 vols.); *Thomas von Aquin als Meister christlicher Sittenlehre* (Munich-Rome 1925); *Das Sein und Wesen Gottes* (Münster 1929–30, in 2 vols.).