MAYR, BEDA. - Benedictine theologian, born at Daiting (Bavaria) on 15 Jan. 1742, died at Donauwörth on 4 Apr. 1794. Professor, librarian, and prior of his monastery of Heiligenkreuz, he long taught rhetoric, mathematics, philosophy, and theology, securing for himself, 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 not a little the doctrine of the infallibility of the Church in favor of Josephinist theories; he was therefore censured and suspended from teaching. Of his numerous publications (ca. 60), particularly noteworthy are: Der erste Schritt zur künftigen Vereinigung der kathol. Kirche (Munich 1778), a letter to H. Braun, published by the latter without his knowledge, in an attempt at reconciliation with Protestants. With the same intent 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). Along with his German translation of Holy Scripture, mention should be made of: De copernicano systemate (Dillingen 1768); Die kathol. Lehre von den Ablüssen für die Verstorbenen (Augsburg 1787).