Vitus Pichler was an Austrian Jesuit canonist and controversial writer.

He studied for the secular priesthood, but after ordination entered the Society of Jesus, 28 September 1696. For four years he was professor of philosophy at Briggs

Briggs

Briggs could refer to:* Briggs cliff, a fictional place in Fullmetal Alchemist manga* Briggs , a lunar crater* Briggs Initiative, either of two pieces of Californian legislation sponsored by John Briggs* Briggs Islet, Tasmania, Australia...

 and Dillingen

University of Dillingen

The University of Dillingen, at Dillingen an der Donau in southern Germany, existed from 1551 to 1803. It was located in Swabia, then a district of Bavaria.-Foundation:...

. He was then advanced to the chair of philosophy, controversial and scholastic, at Augsburg

Augsburg

Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...

. He acquired fame in the field of canon law, which he taught for nineteen years at Dillingen, and at Ingolstadt

Ingolstadt

Ingolstadt is a city in the Free State of Bavaria, in the Federal Republic of Germany. It is located along the banks of the Danube River, in the center of Bavaria. As at 31 March 2011, Ingolstadt had 125.407 residents...

, where he was the successor of Francis Xavier Schmalzgrueber

Francis Xavier Schmalzgrueber

Francis Xavier Schmalzgrueber Francis Xavier Schmalzgrueber Francis Xavier Schmalzgrueber (born at Griesbach, Bavaria, 9 October 1663; died at Dillingen, 7 November 1735 was a German Jesuit canonist.Entering the Society of Jesus in 1679 he made his studies at Ingolstadt, obtaining the doctorate...

. His latest appointment was as prefect of higher studies at Munich.

Works

His first important literary work was, "Lutheranismus constanter errans" (1709); "Una et vera fides" (1710); "Theologia polemica paticularis" (1711). In his "Cursus theologiæ polemicæ universæ" (1713), Pichler devotes the first part to the fundamentals of polemical theology and the second part to the particular errors of the reformers. It is said that he is the first writer to lay down, clearly and separately, the distinction between fundamental theology and other divisions of the science.

He also wrote an important work on papal infallibility

Papal infallibility

Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church which states that, by action of the Holy Spirit, the Pope is preserved from even the possibility of error when in his official capacity he solemnly declares or promulgates to the universal Church a dogmatic teaching on faith or morals...

, "Papatus nunquan errans in proponendis fidei articulis" (1709). Although renowned as a polemical theologian, Pichler is better known as a canonist. He published his "Candidatus juris prudentiæ sacræ" in 1722; this was followed by "Summa jurisprudentiæ sacræ universæ" in 1723 sqq. He also issued "Manipulus casuum jiridicorum" and several epitomes of his larger canonical treatises.

Pichler's controversial works were in great vogue during the eighteenth century, while his books on canon law were used as textbooks in many universities. His solutions to difficult cases in jurisprudence gave a decided impetus to the study of the canons and afforded a key to the intricate portions of the "Corpus juris canonici". Fourteen of Pichler's works, excluding the many editions and alterations, are enumerated.