STOLZ, ALBAN. - Writer and educator, b. Feb. 3, 1808 at Bühl (Baden), d. at Freiburg im Breisgau on Oct. 16, 1883. After his secondary studies at Rastatt, he followed a "provisional" course of theology at Freiburg im Breisgau, and, shaken in his faith by the rationalistic environment, studied philosophy and pedagogy at Heidelberg. Brought back to full faith, he was ordained a priest (1833) and was a most zealous pastor of souls. After a brief period of teaching at the Higher School of Bruchsal (1841-43), he moved to the theological seminary and in 1847 to the University of Freiburg im Breisgau as professor of pastoral theology, which he taught 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) had an immense circulation, as did his Lebensbeschreibungen of saints, such as Elizabeth (1865), Germana, Vincent de Paul, and his great Heiligenlegende (1851-60). S. enclosed his thoughts and experiences as an educator in his minor pastoral writings (Standeseltsorge) and in the treatise Erziehungskunst (1873). Also very well known was his "Gebetbuch": Der Mensch und sein Engel (1868). He was resolute and sharp in his polemical writings against the representatives in Germany of liberalism, rationalism, "Deutschkatholizismus" (Ronge), Old Catholicism and Freemasonry. His travel descriptions (Besuch bei Sem, Cham und Japhet, 1857; Spanisches für die gebildete Welt, 1853; etc.) represent the pilgrimages of the seeker of God. S. was by correspondence the director of not a few doubters toward conversion (Fügung und Führung, 3 vols., ed. by J. Mayer). His correspondence (Briefwechsel, 7 vols., ed. by A. Stockmann, 1923), especially that with the Ringseis 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. Hülhof, 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) usually attain the vigor of his writings.

Bibliography9 works

BIBL.: works; ed. in 21 vols.; popular ed. in 14 vols., new ed. in 3 vols., all in preparation at Freiburg im Breisgau. Biographies and studies: F. Hettinger, Mit A. S. durch den Schwarzwald, in Aus Welt und Kirche, 5th ed., Freiburg im Breisgau 1902; H. Herz, A. S., ibid. 1916; J. Mayer, A. S., ibid. 1921 (capital); L. Bopp, A. S. als Seelen- und Erziehungskundiger, ibid. 1935; A. Scheidgen, A. S. Naturleben, Münster 1928; K. Brocke, Die volkstümliche Heimatkunst in A. S. Sprache und Stil, Freiburg im Breisgau 1931; F. Hülhof, A. S. in seiner Entwicklung als Schriftsteller, ibid. 1931; K. Gröber (archbishop of Freiburg), Hirtenbrief zum 50. Todestag von A. S., ibid. 1933.

Lino Bopp

@incollection{ec11_stolz_alban, author = {Bopp, Lino}, title = {Stolz, alban}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {XI}, pages = {1374}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1953}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/stolz-alban} }

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Stolz, Alban

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