NIDER, JOHANN

Dominican theologian, writer, diplomat, and reformer; b. Isny (Württemberg) c. 1380; d. Nuremberg, Aug. 13, 1438. Nider (Nyder, or Neider) entered the Order of Preachers at Colmar c. 1400, and under the saintly Conrad of Prussia was formed in the spirit of strict observance. Following his novitiate, he began his philosophical and theological studies at the University of Vienna and completed them at Cologne, where he was ordained. He soon became celebrated as a preacher throughout Germany and Switzerland. Nider attended the Council of constance, participating in the debates over the doctrines of Hus. In 1423 he became professor of theology at the University of Vienna, and attracted many disciples by his reputation. He was prior of Nuremberg from 1425 to 1429. Throughout Germany he preached the reform initiated by Bl. raymond of capua and furthered by Bl. John dominici. Nider was prior of the convent of strict observance at Basle, 1429–36, and from 1429 to 1438 was vicar over all the reformed priories in Germany. In 1431 he went as theologian to the Council of basle, which sent him as legate to the Bohemian church. In Bohemia he preached against the hussites and attempted to reunite those who had broken communion with Rome. He was conciliar legate in 1434 to the Diet of Ratisbon. In 1436, on completion of his term as prior of Basle, he returned to the University of Vienna, where he was elected dean of the faculty of theology.

His principal work, the Formicarius (5 v., 1517), was written in 1437. It is a collection of anecdotes and dialogues, a rich source for the religious history and political mind of the first part of the 15th century. It also contains long developments on diabolical activity. His other works are the Praeceptorium divinae legis (17 editions before 1500); Tractatus de contractibus mercatorum (8 editions before 1500); Alphabeticum divini amoris, which was later attributed to Gerson; De modo bene vivendi, erroneously thought to be a work of St. Bernard; and many other moral and ascetical works.

Bibliography: Scriptores Ordinis 1.2:792–794; 2.2:822. k. schieler, Magister Johannes Nieder, aus dem Orden der Prediger-Brüder (Mainz 1885). m. m. gorce, Dictionnaire de théologie catholique 11:851–854.

[j. f. quigley]