Aloys Lütolf
Encyclopedia
Aloys Lütolf was a Swiss Catholic ecclesiastical
historian.
, and at the Lyceum at Lucerne
, where he became an enthusiastic student of history. But as the political situation at that time did not permit of serious study, Lütolf, with a number of students of like youthful ardour, placed themselves in 1847 at the disposal of their country. For a time Lütolf was employed as private secretary at Lucerne, and also took part in the expedition of the Sonderbund
army into the Canton of Ticino.
From 1847 to 1849 he studied theology and history at Freiburg in Baden and at Munich
, and in 1850 was ordained priest at Solothurn
. After serving on the mission for a time, he taught history from 1852 to 1856 at the Catholic cantonal school of St. Gallen
. On the suppression of this school, Lütolf became parish priest at Lucerne.
In 1864 he was appointed viceregent of the clerical seminary at Solothurn, in 1858 professor of church history, and shortly afterwards canon of St. Leodegar's chapter at Lucerne.
He also has a work on the historian Kopp, Jos. Ant. Kopp als Professor, Dichter, Staatsmann und Historiker (Lucerne, 1868). The latter had shortly before his death given him his historical manuscripts, and commissioned him to complete his partly finished work, Geschichte der eidgenössischen Bünde.
Ecclesiology
Today, ecclesiology usually refers to the theological study of the Christian church. However when the word was coined in the late 1830s, it was defined as the science of the building and decoration of churches and it is still, though rarely, used in this sense.In its theological sense, ecclesiology...
historian.
Life
He made his early studies at the Jesuit College of SchwyzSchwyz
The town of is the capital of the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland.The Federal Charter of 1291 or Bundesbrief, the charter that eventually led to the foundation of Switzerland, can be seen at the Bundesbriefmuseum.-History of the toponym:...
, and at the Lyceum at Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
, where he became an enthusiastic student of history. But as the political situation at that time did not permit of serious study, Lütolf, with a number of students of like youthful ardour, placed themselves in 1847 at the disposal of their country. For a time Lütolf was employed as private secretary at Lucerne, and also took part in the expedition of the Sonderbund
Sonderbund
The Sonderbund War of November 1847 was a civil war in Switzerland. It ensued after seven Catholic cantons formed the Sonderbund in 1845 in order to protect their interests against a centralization of power...
army into the Canton of Ticino.
From 1847 to 1849 he studied theology and history at Freiburg in Baden and at Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, and in 1850 was ordained priest at Solothurn
Solothurn
The city of Solothurn is the capital of the Canton of Solothurn in Switzerland. The city also comprises the only municipality of the district of the same name.-Pre-roman settlement:...
. After serving on the mission for a time, he taught history from 1852 to 1856 at the Catholic cantonal school of St. Gallen
St. Gallen
St. Gallen is the capital of the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. It evolved from the hermitage of Saint Gall, founded in the 7th century. Today, it is a large urban agglomeration and represents the center of eastern Switzerland. The town mainly relies on the service sector for its economic...
. On the suppression of this school, Lütolf became parish priest at Lucerne.
In 1864 he was appointed viceregent of the clerical seminary at Solothurn, in 1858 professor of church history, and shortly afterwards canon of St. Leodegar's chapter at Lucerne.
Works
In 1859 he began to publish his investigations made at St. Gallen. The most important are Sagen, Gebräuche und Legenden aus den fünf Orten (Lucerne, 1865) and Glaubensboten der Schweiz vor St. Gallus (Lucerne, 1870), a contribution to the ancient history of Switzerland. His Leben und Bekenntnisse des I. L. S. Schiffmann (Lucerne, 1861) is a memorial to his former master, Father Schiffman; the book also contains important information about Bishop Sailer, and his school in Switzerland.He also has a work on the historian Kopp, Jos. Ant. Kopp als Professor, Dichter, Staatsmann und Historiker (Lucerne, 1868). The latter had shortly before his death given him his historical manuscripts, and commissioned him to complete his partly finished work, Geschichte der eidgenössischen Bünde.