WITTMANN, PATRIZIUS. - Journalist, b. at Ellwangen (Württemberg) on 4 Jan. 1818, d. at Munich, Bavaria, on 3 Oct. 1883.
He began his journalistic activity, entirely devoted to the staunch defence of the Catholic idea in Germany, by taking part in the editing of the journal Sion, of which he became editor-in-chief in 1841. He subsequently founded and directed the Stadt- und Landbote, the Neue Augsburger Zeitung, and the Sendosten für Piusvereine, the association he promoted in order to unite Bavarian Catholics in a league. He also laid the foundations of the Society of St Boniface (Bonifatiusverein), which constituted a precursor of Catholic Action. A man of exceptional industry, lecturer as well as a leading journalist, he brought into being a very great number of works and institutions with the most diverse programmes. He also concerned himself with male and female vocations, promoting the foundation of a charitable congregation of Sisters of Charity. He wrote an Allgemeine Geschichte der katholischen Missionen (2 vols., 1846 and 1850), the first of its kind in Germany, preceded by a volume entitled Die Herrlichkeit der kath. Kirche in ihren Missionen seit der Glaubensspaltung (2 vols., Augsburg 1841), an eloquent and heartfelt exaltation of the greatness of the Church as teacher of truth in the world.