PIRHING, EHRENREICH. - Canonist and moral theologian, b. at Siegarthing (Lower Bavaria) on 12 Apr. 1606, d. at Dillingen (Bavaria) on 15 Sept. 1679.
A Jesuit in 1628, he taught philosophy at Ingolstadt, then moral theology, and for a long time canon law and Holy Scripture at Dillingen. He was also rector at Eichstätt and preacher at Regensburg. He is considered the best canonist of the 17th century for his classic work: *Ius canonicum in V libros Decretalium distributum* (Dillingen 1674-78, 1722; Venice 1759), in which other works previously published on particular topics of Book I of the Decretals are summarized. After his death a confrere made a summary: *Pacili et concisa ss. Canonum d. critina* (Dillingen 1690; Venice 1693), then under the title *Synopsis Pirhingana* (Augsburg 1693; Venice 1697).
Among his works the most successful seem to be those in which the sentiment of an obscure evil power is expressed, dominating desolate landscapes, both interior and exterior, of ruin and absurdity.