Valentin Thalhofer
Encyclopedia
Valentin Thalhofer was a German Roman Catholic clergyman and theologian.
, near Ulm
, on 21 January 1825; and died at the same place, 17 September 1891. He took his gymnasial studies and philosophy at Dillingen, then from 1845 studied theology at the University of Munich. In 1848 he received the degree of Doctor of Theology and was ordained priest. After this he was prefect at the seminary for priests at Dillingen (1850–63), professor of exegesis
at the lyceum
of Dillingen (1863–76), director of the seminary for priests, the Georgianum at Munich, and professor of liturgy at Eichstatt
, and in 1899 became the cathedral provost there.
He was an able and highly respected teacher, a man of noble character, a zealous confessor, pulpit orator and catechist, and was a fruitful writer, thorough and intellectual in his work. His labours at the Georgianum, for which he was highly praised, greatly benefited the institution.
. In the same year he began a successful opposition to the pseudo-mysticism and Irvingism which were spreading in Swabia
at that time. His chief work in this direction was the "Beitrage zur Geschichte des Aftermysticismus und insbesondere des Irvingianismus im Bistum Augsburg" (1857). His excellent commentary on the Psalms
was very popular (first published in 1857; 7th edition, 1904). In 1860-63 he edited the official publication of the Augsburg Diocese and brought it to greater prosperity.
Among the literary work done during his residence at Munich should be mentioned his editing of a "Library of the Fathers" in eighty volumes (1869–88); a work on the sacrifice of the Old and New Covenant
s (1870); and the editing of the "Lehrbuch der biblishen Hermeneutik" of his deceased friend Franz Xaver Reithmayr
(1874).
At Eichstatt he was commissioned by the bishop to revise the "Rituale Romano-Eystettense", and in addition issued a smaller ritual as a manual for the clergy of the diocese (1879–80). He then began his chief work, a large "Handbuch der Liturgik" which rests on a thorough study of the original authorities and is still indispensable. Of the special liturgies, he published himself in 1890 the "Liturgie des heiligen Messopfers", and from the papers of the deceased Andreas Schmid he added to this in 1893 the "Liturgie des kirchlichen Stundengebetes", the "Liturgie der Sakramente und Sakramentalien", and the doctrine of the church year. Adalbert Ebner
began a revised edition of this work, but unfortunately no more has been published than the fist section of the first volume (1894). Schmid also edited from Thalhofer's literary remains "Die heilige Messe und das Priestertum der katholischen Kirche in 25 Predigten dargestellt" (1893).
In addition to these larger works Thalhofer also wrote excellent articles for theological reviews and for the "Kirchenlexikon" of Freiburg.
Biography
Thalhofer was born at UnterrothUnterroth
Unterroth is a municipality in the district of Neu-Ulm in Bavaria in Germany....
, near Ulm
Ulm
Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 , forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and...
, on 21 January 1825; and died at the same place, 17 September 1891. He took his gymnasial studies and philosophy at Dillingen, then from 1845 studied theology at the University of Munich. In 1848 he received the degree of Doctor of Theology and was ordained priest. After this he was prefect at the seminary for priests at Dillingen (1850–63), professor of exegesis
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
at the lyceum
Lyceum
The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies between countries; usually it is a type of secondary school.-History:...
of Dillingen (1863–76), director of the seminary for priests, the Georgianum at Munich, and professor of liturgy at Eichstatt
Eichstätt
Eichstätt is a town in the federal state of Bavaria, Germany, and capital of the District of Eichstätt. It is located along the Altmühl River, at , and had a population of 13,078 in 2002. It is home to the Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, the lone Catholic university in Germany. The...
, and in 1899 became the cathedral provost there.
He was an able and highly respected teacher, a man of noble character, a zealous confessor, pulpit orator and catechist, and was a fruitful writer, thorough and intellectual in his work. His labours at the Georgianum, for which he was highly praised, greatly benefited the institution.
Writings
His first publication was a prize essay at Munich on the bloodless sacrifice of the Mosaic worship (1848). In 1855 he wrote in the report of the Dillingen lyceum for that year, a dissertation on the doctrine of sacrifice contained in the Epistle to the HebrewsEpistle to the Hebrews
The Epistle to the Hebrews is one of the books in the New Testament. Its author is not known.The primary purpose of the Letter to the Hebrews is to exhort Christians to persevere in the face of persecution. The central thought of the entire Epistle is the doctrine of the Person of Christ and his...
. In the same year he began a successful opposition to the pseudo-mysticism and Irvingism which were spreading in Swabia
Swabia
Swabia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.-Geography:Like many cultural regions of Europe, Swabia's borders are not clearly defined...
at that time. His chief work in this direction was the "Beitrage zur Geschichte des Aftermysticismus und insbesondere des Irvingianismus im Bistum Augsburg" (1857). His excellent commentary on the Psalms
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
was very popular (first published in 1857; 7th edition, 1904). In 1860-63 he edited the official publication of the Augsburg Diocese and brought it to greater prosperity.
Among the literary work done during his residence at Munich should be mentioned his editing of a "Library of the Fathers" in eighty volumes (1869–88); a work on the sacrifice of the Old and New Covenant
New Covenant
The New Covenant is a concept originally derived from the Hebrew Bible. The term "New Covenant" is used in the Bible to refer to an epochal relationship of restoration and peace following a period of trial and judgment...
s (1870); and the editing of the "Lehrbuch der biblishen Hermeneutik" of his deceased friend Franz Xaver Reithmayr
Franz Xaver Reithmayr
Franz Xaver Reithmayr was a German Catholic theologian who specialized in New Testament exegesis. He was born in Illkofen, located near Regensburg....
(1874).
At Eichstatt he was commissioned by the bishop to revise the "Rituale Romano-Eystettense", and in addition issued a smaller ritual as a manual for the clergy of the diocese (1879–80). He then began his chief work, a large "Handbuch der Liturgik" which rests on a thorough study of the original authorities and is still indispensable. Of the special liturgies, he published himself in 1890 the "Liturgie des heiligen Messopfers", and from the papers of the deceased Andreas Schmid he added to this in 1893 the "Liturgie des kirchlichen Stundengebetes", the "Liturgie der Sakramente und Sakramentalien", and the doctrine of the church year. Adalbert Ebner
Adalbert Ebner
Adalbert Ebner was a German Catholic clergyman and liturgiologist born in Straubing.He received his ordination in 1886 at Regensburg, where he subsequently served as Chorvikar at the Alten Kapelle. From 1892 he was dozent of patrology, Christian archaeology and liturgy at the Catholic University...
began a revised edition of this work, but unfortunately no more has been published than the fist section of the first volume (1894). Schmid also edited from Thalhofer's literary remains "Die heilige Messe und das Priestertum der katholischen Kirche in 25 Predigten dargestellt" (1893).
In addition to these larger works Thalhofer also wrote excellent articles for theological reviews and for the "Kirchenlexikon" of Freiburg.