Joseph Lortz
Encyclopedia
Joseph Lortz ( December 13, 1887 in Grevenmacher
, Luxembourg
– February 21, 1975 in Luxembourg (city)
) was a Roman Catholic Church Historian. He was a highly regarded Reformation
historian and ecumenist.
and theology
in Rome from 1907 to 1911 and at the University of Fribourg
from 1911 to 1913. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1913 at the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg
. From 1913 to 1923 he lived in Bonn
, where the church and Reformation historians Heinrich Schrörs, Joseph Greving and Albert Ehrhard influenced his further intellectual development. In 1917 he became the scholarly secretary of the editorial board Corpus Catholicorum series.
He completed his doctorate at the University of Bonn
in 1920 and wrote his Habilitation
Schrift at the University of Würzburg
in 1923. He then worked as a Privatdozent
under Sebastian Merkle, simultaneously serving as a chaplain in Würzburg
. In 1929 he received a post as a professor at the Collegium Hosianum
in East Prussia
. After the Nazi seizure of power
in 1933, he published a treatise on the “Catholic Accommodation with National Socialism" (Katholischer Zugang zum Nationalsozialismus). In 1935 he moved to the chair of general church history with special emphasis on the history of missions
at the University of Münster
. Lortz, who had been a member of the Nazi party, left the party in 1938.
After the war he taught at the University of Mainz from 1950 until his death in 1975. He was also director of the Institute of European History in Mainz in the department of Western religious history.
He was a member of the Catholic fraternity K.D.St.V. Teutonia in Freiburg/Üechtland of the CV
.
Many of Lortz’s works engaged the issue of the relation between the Roman Catholic Church
and the Reformation. His best known work remains The Reformation in Germany.
Among Lortz's better known students are Karl Pellens, Armin Lindauer, Alex Schröer.
Grevenmacher
Grevenmacher is a commune with city status in eastern Luxembourg, near the border with Germany. It is the capital of the canton and the district of Grevenmacher...
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
– February 21, 1975 in Luxembourg (city)
Luxembourg (city)
The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
) was a Roman Catholic Church Historian. He was a highly regarded Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
historian and ecumenist.
Life
Joseph Lortz, the second youngest of seven children, studied philosophyPhilosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in Rome from 1907 to 1911 and at the University of Fribourg
University of Fribourg
The University of Fribourg is a university in the city of Fribourg, Switzerland.The roots of the University can be traced back to 1582, when the notable Jesuit Peter Canisius founded the Collège Saint-Michel in the City of Fribourg. In 1763, an Academy of law was founded by the state of Frobourg...
from 1911 to 1913. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1913 at the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg
Notre-Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg
Notre-Dame Cathedral is the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It was originally a Jesuit church, and its cornerstone was laid in 1613....
. From 1913 to 1923 he lived in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, where the church and Reformation historians Heinrich Schrörs, Joseph Greving and Albert Ehrhard influenced his further intellectual development. In 1917 he became the scholarly secretary of the editorial board Corpus Catholicorum series.
He completed his doctorate at the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
in 1920 and wrote his Habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
Schrift at the University of Würzburg
University of Würzburg
The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
in 1923. He then worked as a Privatdozent
Privatdozent
Privatdozent or Private lecturer is a title conferred in some European university systems, especially in German-speaking countries, for someone who pursues an academic career and holds all formal qualifications to become a tenured university professor...
under Sebastian Merkle, simultaneously serving as a chaplain in Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
. In 1929 he received a post as a professor at the Collegium Hosianum
Collegium Hosianum
The Collegium Hosianum was the Jesuit collegium in Royal Prussia, Poland, founded in 1565, 1566 by Cardinal Stanislaus Hosius in Braniewo . The city of Braniewo was then part of the Diocese of Warmia , a semi-autonomous part of Poland with cardinal Hosius as its prince-bishop...
in East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
. After the Nazi seizure of power
Machtergreifung
Machtergreifung is a German word meaning "seizure of power". It is normally used specifically to refer to the Nazi takeover of power in the democratic Weimar Republic on 30 January 1933, the day Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor of Germany, turning it into the Nazi German dictatorship.-Term:The...
in 1933, he published a treatise on the “Catholic Accommodation with National Socialism" (Katholischer Zugang zum Nationalsozialismus). In 1935 he moved to the chair of general church history with special emphasis on the history of missions
Missiology
Missiology is the area of practical theology that investigates the mandate, message, and mission of the Christian church, especially the nature of missionary work...
at the University of Münster
University of Münster
The University of Münster is a public university located in the city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. The WWU is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, a society of Germany's leading research universities...
. Lortz, who had been a member of the Nazi party, left the party in 1938.
After the war he taught at the University of Mainz from 1950 until his death in 1975. He was also director of the Institute of European History in Mainz in the department of Western religious history.
He was a member of the Catholic fraternity K.D.St.V. Teutonia in Freiburg/Üechtland of the CV
Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen
The Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen or Cartellverband is a German umbrella organization of Catholic male student fraternities .-Foundation:...
.
Many of Lortz’s works engaged the issue of the relation between the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and the Reformation. His best known work remains The Reformation in Germany.
Among Lortz's better known students are Karl Pellens, Armin Lindauer, Alex Schröer.
Works
- Die Reformation. Kyrios, 1947
- Die Reformation als religiöses Anliegen heute. Paulinus, 1948
- Geschichte der Kirche in ideengeschichtlicher Betrachtung. Imprimatur October 22, 1935, 14th ed. Aschendorff 1948
- Die Reformation in Deutschland. Bd. 2. Ausbau der Fronten, Unionsversuche, Ergebnis. Herder, 1949 (4th ed. 1952)
- Die Reformation in Deutschland. Bd. 1. Voraussetzungen. Herder, 1949 (5th ed. 1965)
- Geschichte der Kirche in ideengeschichtlicher Betrachtung. 15 & 16th eds. Aschendorff, 1950
- Bernhard von Clairvaux, Mönch und Mystiker. Steiner, 1955
- (with Walther von Loewenich and Fedor Stepun Europa und das Christentum. Zabern 1959. ISBN 3805320469,
- Geschichte der Kirche in ideengeschichtlicher Betrachtung. Bd. 1. Altertum und Mittelalter. 21st ed. Aschendorff, 1962
- Geschichte der Kirche in ideengeschichtlicher Betrachtung. Bd. 2. Die Neuzeit. 21st ed. Aschendorff, 1964
- The Reformation in Germany. 2 vols. New York, Herder and Herder, 1968. ISBN 0232483868
- (with Erwin Iserloh) Kleine Reformationsgeschichte. 2nd ed. Herder, 1971
Further reading
- Erwin Iserloh and Peter Manns, eds. Festgabe Joseph Lortz. 2. Glaube und Geschichte, Grimm 1958.
- Erwin Iserloh, Joseph Lortz (1887–1975). Historisches Jahrbuch 94 (1974), pp. 505–507.
- Gabriele Lautenschläger, Joseph Lortz (1887-1975): Weg, Umwelt und Werk eines katholischen Kirchenhistorikers, 1987, ISBN 3429011191
- Rolf Decot and Rainer Vinke, Zum Gedenken an Joseph Lortz (1887-1975), Stuttgart 1989, ISBN 3-515-05159-7.