STOLZ, ALBAN. - Writer and educator, b. 3 Feb 1808 at Bühl (Baden), d. at Freiburg in Br. on 16 Oct 1883. After his secondary studies at Rastatt, he attended a “provisional” course in theology at Freiburg in Br., shaken in his faith by the rationalistic environment, and then studied philosophy and pedagogy at Heidelberg. Restored to full faith, he was ordained priest (1833) and became a most zealous pastor. After a brief period of teaching at the higher school in Bruchsal (1841–43), he moved to the theological college and in 1847 to the University of Freiburg in Br. as professor of pastoral theology, a post he held until his death.
More than as a theologian, he distinguished himself by his talent as an effective and penetrating religious writer. His Kalender für Zeit und Ewigkeit (from 1843 to 1883) enjoyed immense circulation, as did his Lebensbeschreibungen of saints such as Elisabeth (1865), Germana, Vincent de Paul, and his great Heiligenlegende (1851–60). Stolz distilled his thoughts and experiences as an educator in minor pastoral writings (Standesselsorge) and in the treatise Erziehungskunst (1873). Also very well known was his prayer book Der Mensch und sein Engel (1868). He was resolute and trenchant in his polemical writings against the representatives in Germany of liberalism, rationalism, “Deutschkatholizismus” (Ronge), Old Catholicism, and Freemasonry. His travel accounts (Besuch bei Sem, Cham und Japhet, 1857; Spanisches für die gebildete Welt, 1853; etc.) represent the pilgrimages of the seeker after God. Stolz served as a correspondent director guiding many doubters to conversion (Fügung und Führung, 3 vols., ed. by J. Mayer) and his correspondence (Briefwechsel, 7 vols., ed. by A. Stockmann, 1923), especially that with the Lingesis sisters, and his diaries (Tagebücher): Witterungen der Seele (1867), Wilder Honig (1870), Dürre Kräuter (1877), Lichte Höhen (ed. by J. Mayer, 1922), Nachtgebet meines Lebens (ed. by J. Schmitt, 1885), Phantasmata (ed. by F. Hülshof, V. op. cit. in bibl., 1931), allow one to look into the depths of his rich interior life. His Predigten (ed. J. Mayer, 1908, and J. Ries, 1910–12) generally attain the vigor of his other writings.