MESCHLER, MORITZ. - Jesuit, ascetical writer, b. at Briga (Switzerland) on 6 Sept. 1830, d. at Exaeten (Holland) on 2 Dec. 1912. For a long time he was master of novices at Gorheim, Münster, Exaeten, and Blyenbeck (1867–1916); provincial of Germany (1881–84), and from 1892 to 1906 assistant to the general for Germany at Fiesole, he spent his last years engaged in spiritual direction and literary work at Luxembourg and Exaeten.
His career and his keen spirit of observation offered him in asceticism a very broad field in which to develop its theory and practice, grounding it on sound rational and theological foundations and employing, in setting it forth, a clear and elegant style that persuades and captivates. Even today he is one of the preferred authors of spirituality.
He contributed numerous articles to Stimmen aus Maria-Laach, and wrote: Die Gabe des hl. Pfingstfrstes (Friburgo in Br. 1887); Das Leben unseres Herrn Jesu Christi in Betrachtungen (2 vols., ibid. 1850), followed by many editions and translations: Das Leben des hl. Aloysius V. Gonzaga (ibid. 1893; Italian trans., Torino 1923); Aus dem katholischen Kirchenjahr (2 vols., ibid. 1905); Der göttliche Heiland. Ein Lebensbild (ibid. 1906); Drei Grundlehren des geistlichen Lebens (ibid. 1909); Das Exercitiembuch des hl. Ignatius (1st non-commercial edition; then posthumous, edited by W. Sierp [3 vols., ibid. 1926–28; Italian trans., Torino 1934]).