Probst, Ferdinando

PROBST, FERDINANDO. - Liturgist, b. at Ehingen (Württemberg) on 29 March 1816, d. at Breslau on 26 Dec. 1899. He did his early studies in his native town, which he later completed at Tübingen, where on 16 Sept. 1840 he was ordained a priest.

Vicar at Wangen in 1841, then parish priest at Pfarrich in 1843, he attended Hefele's courses, and on 25 Nov. 1851 he obtained his doctorate in theology. In 1864 he was appointed professor of pastoral theology at the University of Breslau, of which he was rector in 1889-90. A canon in 1886, from 1896 he was provost of the cathedral.

A scholar of ancient liturgy and of the Fathers of the Church, he wrote many works important for the depth of their critical investigations, even if his assertions were not accepted by everyone: Kirchliche Benedictionen und ihre Verwaltung (ibid. 1857); Liturgie der drei ersten christlichen Jahrhunderte (ibid. 1870); Geschichte der katholischer Katechese (ibid. 1886); Sakramente und Sakramentalien in den drei ersten christlichen Jahrhunderten (ibid. 1872); Kirchliche Disciplinen in den drei ersten christlichen Jahrhunderten (ibid. 1873); Die ältesten römischen Sakramentarien und Ordines (Münster 1892); Liturgie des VI. Jahrhunderts und deren Reform (ibid. 1893); Die abendländische Messe vom V. bis zum VIII. Jahrhundert (ibid. 1896), etc. He also collaborated on many scholarly journals.

Silverio Mattei