STOLZ, ANSELM. - Benedictine theologian, b. 28 Jan. 1900 at Erkrath (near Düsseldorf), d. in Rome on 19 Oct. 1942.
A professor of the abbey of St. Joseph (Gerleve) in Westphalia, he studied theology at St. Anselm in Rome, where he returned as professor of dogmatics in 1928. He attracted notice for his sensitivity — uncommon at the time — to the modern theological problem, which was beginning to become pressing around 1930. He sensed the need to find a better balance between the elaboration of the speculative metaphysical aspect and the elaboration of the vital and spiritual anthropological value of Revelation, for which reason he was led to give, in the various questions of dogmatics and of ascetical and mystical theology with which he had to deal, a greater emphasis than usual to certain patristic themes, to which he felt more inclined. In general he made a notable effort to rethink theological method. His premature death did not allow him to reach the full maturity of his thought.
The principal works are: Manuale theologiae dogmaticae, Freiburg im Br. 1939-41, which remained unfinished; the following appeared: Introductio in sacram theologiam; De S.ma Trinitate; Anthropologia theologicae; De Ecclesia. Notable are the monographs Glaubensgnade und Glaubenslicht nach Thomas von Aquin (Rome 1939); Anselm von Canterbury (Munich 1937); Die Theologie der Mystik (Regensburg 1936; Italian trans. Brescia 1941); L'ascesi cristiana (ibid. 1943).
Bibliography
Cipriano Vagaggini