- Augustine Reding
Augustine Reding (born at
Lichtensteig , Switzerland,10 August 1625 ; died atEinsiedeln ,13 March 1692 ) was a SwissBenedictine , thePrince-Abbot of Einsiedeln , and theological writer.Life
After completing the classics at the Benedictine College of Einsiedeln he there joined the Order of St. Benedict, 26 December, 1641, taught philosophy at the early age of twenty-four. Hewas ordained priest and appointed master of novices in 1649, obtained the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and Theology at the
University of Freiburg im Breisgau in 1654, was professor of theology at theBenedictine University of Salzburg from 1648 to 1654. He became dean (prior) at Einsiedeln in 1658, and was finally elected Prince-Abbot of Einsiedeln on 17 July, 1670.At Einsiedeln he built the still existing choir, the confession-church, and St. Magdalene's chapel (1674-84). In 1675 his monastery took charge of the college at
Bellinzona , which was conducted by the monks of Einsiedeln until its suppression in 1852. He watched carefully over discipline, and insisted on a thorough intellectual training of his monks. During his time the conventuals of Einsiedeln increased from 53 to 100, many of whom gained renown as professors at various institutions of learning.Works
His numerous theological writings are learned, but his style is dry and at times obscure. His chief work is "Theologia scholastica universa" (13 vols., Einsiedeln, 1687), based on the "Summa" of
Thomas Aquinas .Other works are:
*"Veritas inextincta concilii Tridentini" (5 vols., ib., 1677-84), a defence of the
Council of Trent againstJohann Heinrich Heidegger ;
*"Vindex veritatis centuriæ primæ annalium ecclesiasticorum Baronii" (ib., 1680), a justification of the first century of the "Annales" ofBaronius ;
*"Œcumenicæ cathedræ apostolicæ authoritas" (ib., 1669), a defence ofpapal supremacy against theGallican Liberties ; and some works of less importance.References
*Morel, "Augustin Reding, Fürstabt von Einsiedeln, als Gelehrter u. Schulmann" (Einsiedeln, 1861);
*Hugo von Hurter , "Nomenclator", IV (Innsbruck, 1910), 332-5
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.