NICOLA (PRUNTZLEIN) di DINKELSBÜHL. – Theologian, born at Dinkelsbühl around 1360, died at Vienna on 17 March 1433. Magister theologiae in 1409, he was three times dean of the Faculty of Theology and, in 1405–1406, rector of the University of Vienna, of which he was regarded as a second founder, since through his philosophical and juridical teaching (until 1431) he made it an authority in juridical and political matters.
He was a canon of St. Stephen’s Cathedral and was buried there before the altar of St. John the Evangelist. From 1406 to 1414 he was tutor to Duke Alberto V of Austria and remained his confessor until his death. In 1405 he was sent as legate to the antipope Innocent VII in Rome. He took part (1414–18) in the Council of Constance as legate of Duke Alberto V and there delivered a celebrated speech before Emperor Sigismund calling for an end to the schism. He was a member of the commission that elected Martin V (8 November 1417) and addressed a solemn allocution to the newly elected pope. He presided over the interrogation of Girolamo of Prague; in 1422–24 he taught at the monastery of Melk, but
He was adviser to St. Brigida and tutor to her children; father of the poor and oppressed, a steadfast defender of the Church against Kings Magnus, Håkan, and Alberto, defender of ecclesiastical celibacy, poet, and liturgist. He worked for the canonization of St. Brigida and received her body when it was transported from Rome to Wadstana. There is no confirmation of his canonization by Giovanni XXIII.
Attributed to him are a paraphrase of the Moralia Gregorii, some Revelationes Birgittae, and the Birgittae officium, a collection of hymns dedicated to various saints and to Brigida herself (among the latter the beautiful Rosa rorans bonitatem, stella stillans claritatem, Birgitta, vas gratiae! Rora coeli pietatem, stilla vitae puritatem, in vallem miseriae).