MAYR, BEDA. - Benedictine theologian, b. at Daiting (Bavaria) on 15 Jan. 1742, d. at Donauwörth on 4 Apr. 1794. Professor, librarian, and prior of his monastery of Heiligenkreuz, he long taught rhetoric, mathematics, philosophy, and theology, securing through his publications a distinguished place in German literature as a poet and dramatist.
Of liberal ideas, he attempted a rapprochement between Protestants and Catholics, sacrificing to Josephinist theories no small part of the doctrine of the Church’s infallibility; he was therefore censured and suspended from teaching. Of his numerous publications (c. 60), particularly noteworthy are: Der erste Schritt zur künftigen Vereinigung der kathol. Kirche (Munich 1878), a letter to H. Braun, published by him without his knowledge, as an attempt at conciliation with Protestants. With the same purpose he wrote: Verteidigung der natürlichen, christlichen u. katholischen Religion (4 vols., Augsburg 1787–90; placed on the Index on 17 Dec. 1792). The work was refuted by J. E. Hochbichler in B. M.'s Verteidigung der kathol. Religion untersucht (ibid. 1790), to which he replied with Apologie der Verteidigung der kathol. Religion (ibid. 1790). Among his works connected with the translation of Holy Scripture into German should be mentioned: De copernicano systemate (Dillingen 1768); Die kathol. Lehre von den Ablässen für die Verstorbenen (Augsburg 1787).