ALZOG, JOHANN BAPTIST

Historian, and patrologist; b. Ohlau, Silesia, June 29, 1808; d. Freiburg, Germany, March 1, 1878. Alzog studied at Breslau and at Bonn. He was ordained in Cologne on July 4, 1834, and received the doctor's degree at Münster in 1835. He then taught at Posen (1836–44) and Hildesheim until called to the University of Freiburg im Breisgau (1853), where he remained until his death.

Alzog was a voluminous writer of sure theological sense and scientific method in research. In 1841 he published his Lehrbuch der Kirchengeschichte, which went through nine editions and was translated into seven languages. In 1866 he published his Handbuch der Patrologie, a model of exactness in biographical detail, conciseness of doctrinal exposition and bibliographical citation. He edited the Oratio apologetica de fuga sua of St. Gregory of Nazianzus, and also contributed to various periodicals and lexica. He vigorously supported the archbishop, Martin de Dunin, in the controversy over mixed marriages. In 1869 he was called to Rome by Pius IX to take part in the preparation for Vatican Council I. Alzog's work was noted for impartiality and equanimity. After Johann A. mÖhler, he was a principal influence in the revival of studies concerned with positive theology in Germany. He also helped to found the gÖrres–gesellschaft.

Bibliography: h. hemmer, Dictionnaire de théologie catholique, ed. a. vacant et al., 15 v. (Paris 1903–50) 1:931–932. p. sÄger, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche ², ed. j. hofer and k. rahner, 10 v. (2d, new ed. Freiburg 1957–65) 1:410–411.

[f. x. murphy]