Schmid, Franz
SCHMID, FRANZ
Theologian; b. Terenten, Oct. 5, 1844; d. Brixen (now Bressanone, Italian Tyrol), Sept. 18, 1922. From 1866 to 1873, he studied at the German College in Rome, where he heard the lectures of J. kleutgen (d. 1883), J. franzelin (d. 1886), and D. palmieri (d. 1909). He was ordained in 1872 at Rome, and then did pastoral work for six years at Stilfes (in the diocese of Brixen). He was spiritual director as well as professor of church history at the seminary in Brixen from 1879 to 1882, and professor of dogmatic theology from 1882 to 1908. In 1894 he was named a canon, and in 1905, domestic prelate. From 1908 to 1916, he was rector of the seminary; and from 1916 to 1918, vicar-general of the diocese. Besides his most famous work, Die ausserordentlichen Heilswege für die gefallene Menschheit (Brixen 1899), he contributed many others to the development of theology; the most important are Quaestiones selectae ex theologia dogmatica (Paderborn 1891), Christus als Prophet (Brixen 1892), Die Wirksamkeit des Bittgebetes (Brixen 1895), and Die Sakramentalien der katholischen Kirche (Brixen 1896). His favorite writers were St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Suárez. His works excel in clarity, discretion, faithfulness to the Church, and objective investigation of facts.
[j. baur]