MÜLLER, ERNST MARIA. - Moral theologian, b. at Irritz (southern Moravia) on 30 Feb. 1822, d. at Linz on 28 Sept. 1888. A priest, in 1846 he became professor of pedagogy and from 1857 to 1868 of moral theology at the University of Vienna; from 1865 he was also rector of the major seminary of Vienna; bishop of Linz in 1885, he remained there until his death. He is one of the best-known German moralists of the last century.
The work with which his name is associated is the Theologia moralis (Vienna 1868-76, in 3 vols.): solid in its treatment, it is distinguished by the spirit of piety that pervades II. The three volumes went through several editions, even after the author's death: the first reached its 10th ed. in 1923, edited by I. Seipel and J. Ujčić; the second its 9th ed. in 1925, edited by A. Schmuckenschläger; the third its 8th ed. in 1914, edited by I. Seipel.