Matthew of Krakow

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Matthäus von Krakau (* around 1335/40 in Krakow ; † March 5, 1410 in Heidelberg ) was a Catholic theologian professor at the University of Heidelberg , whose rector he was 1396-1397. 1405-1410 he was Bishop of Worms .

Life

Matthäus was born as the son of a German-speaking town clerk in Krakow and studied from 1365 at the Charles University in Prague , where he subsequently taught. Until 1380 he belonged to the artist faculty and then moved to the theological faculty, where he received his doctorate in 1384 and where u. a. Nikolaus Magni von Jauer and Matthias von Liegnitz were among his students. In addition, he worked in Prague as a city preacher, who advocated religious and ecclesiastical reforms. On behalf of the university he made a trip to Pope Urban VI in 1379 . and 1385 to Genoa . From 1390 to 1394 he stayed in Krakow again, where he was probably involved in the reorganization of the university .

In 1394 he moved to Heidelberg University to a well-paid theological professorship. In 1395 he was appointed dean of the theological faculty and from 1396 to 1397 he held the office of rector. In 1396 he was given the right to freely choose the pulpit as a preacher. As early as 1395, Elector Ruprecht II had appointed him Privy Councilor and confessor. As one of the leading theologians, he was consulted on the question of papal schism by the electoral court , the center of Roman obedience in Germany, and thus exercised considerable theological and ecclesiastical influence. In 1396 he was given a canonical in Speyer .

With the election of Elector Ruprecht III. his real political activity began as the German king. Together with the court lawyer Job Vener, he supported the king in setting up a government center in Nuremberg, traveled to France as envoy in 1401 and, together with the Speyer bishop Raban von Helmstatt, conducted lengthy and tough negotiations with the Roman curia about the license to practice medicine. October 1403 could be successfully completed. He also represented the king at the Council of Pisa in 1409, where he tried to prevent the church from being split into three.

On June 19, 1405 he was appointed Bishop of Worms by Pope Innocent VII , in 1408 as a cardinal and in 1409 as a legate for Germany. He continued to work as an advisor to the king and for the University of Heidelberg. In contrast, he hardly stayed in Worms, as the city was banned from political tensions.

He left behind an extensive literary work with collections of sermons and theological writings that continued to have an effect until the Reformation. In it he mainly dealt with Christian life and pastoral care. In his sermons he took a clear stand against the unworthy behavior, especially of secular clergy, with their theological ignorance and pastoral indifference. He criticized their greed, their pursuit of private enjoyment and the purchase of offices . Despite his criticism, he was always open to discussions with the official church.

He died on March 5, 1410 in Heidelberg and was buried in the choir of Worms Cathedral . He left his library, which was extensive for that time, to the University of Heidelberg.

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Matthias Nuding: Matthäus von Krakau: Theologian, politician, church reformer. 2007
  2. ↑ Website on the no longer existing tomb of the bishop
predecessor Office successor
Eckard von Dersch Bishop of Worms
1405–1410 		Johann II of Fleckenstein
personal data
SURNAME Matthew of Krakow
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Matthew de Cracovia
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German Catholic theologian, professor, Privy Councilor, Bishop of Worms
DATE OF BIRTH around 1335
PLACE OF BIRTH Krakow
DATE OF DEATH March 5, 1410
Place of death Heidelberg