SCHMITZ, HERMANN JOSEPH. - Auxiliary bishop of Cologne, canonist, promoter of the social movement, b. at Cologne on 16 May 1841, d. there on 21 Aug. 1899. Ordained priest in 1866, after completing further studies in canon law at Rome, he was assistant parish priest at Düsseldorf from 1868, archpriest at Krefeld from 1886, and auxiliary bishop of Cologne in 1893.
An eloquent speaker, he promoted social and charitable works both from the pulpit and through the various Catholic organizations and conferences. Among his writings, the two volumes of historico-canonical research on the penitentials are especially praised for their scholarly solidity.
Principal works: Cola di Rienzo (Friburgo in Br. 1879); Die Bussbücher und die Bussdisziplin der Kirche (Magonza 1883); Gattin und Mutter in Heidentum, Judentum und Christentum, under the pseudonym Fabrizia (Bonn 1883); Die Bussbücher und das kanonische Busserfahren (Düsseldorf 1898); followed by collections of his sermons: Die acht Seligkeiten des Christentums und die Versprechungen der Sozialdemokratie (M. Gladbach 1891; 3rd ed., Colonia 1900); Tobias, ein Vorbild für Katholiken der Gegenwart (Magonza 1892; 3rd ed., ibid. 1904); Der Prophet Elias (Colonia 1897; 2nd ed. 1898); David, der Mann der Hoffnung auf Gott (ibid. 1899); after his death, G. Hütten edited: Gegen den Strom (Einsiedeln 1901).