Michael Vehe

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Michael Vehe as a scratch painting technique at the Catholic rectory in Biberach

Michael Vehe (* 1485 in Biberach near Heilbronn; † April 1539 in Halle ) was a Dominican , old-believing theologian during the Reformation , auxiliary bishop and editor of the first Catholic hymn book with sheet music.

Life

Michael Vehe was born in Biberach (near Heilbronn) in 1485. At the age of 15 he entered the Dominican monastery in Wimpfen . He studied in Heidelberg. In the university records on July 29, 1506 it is recorded that Vehe was a lecturer there and received his doctorate in theology on January 18, 1513. After his return to the monastery, he held the office of prior there. In 1515 he returned to Heidelberg, where he was appointed Regens of the Heidelberg Order School. In the chronicle of the order it is written about him: "A man who distinguished himself through a sense of duty, piety, education and eloquence and through ardent zeal for the Catholic faith".

At the time of the Reformation, Vehe was an ardent defender of Catholic teaching. He experienced the eventful first period of the Reformation, triggered in 1517 by Luther's 95 theses , in which he attacked the indulgence trade and the practice of penance. Vehe took part in all important meetings and debates of that time.

From 1528 Halle Vehes was the official residence. There the influential Cardinal Albrecht , Margrave of Brandenburg, Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg, had converted the former Dominican monastery into a collegiate monastery and furnished it with an extensive collection of relics with papal indulgences in order to develop Halle into a base against the Wittenberg Reformation. Albrecht appointed Vehe as provost and his personal theological advisor. He “developed a tremendous activity here to bring the new pen to honor and prestige. Vehe, a learned and pious theologian, gave daily lectures on the Pauline letters . "

In 1530 Vehe took part in the Augsburg Diet . He had received the order from Emperor Charles V to refute the Augsburg Confession , the fundamental confession of Protestants. In a dispute on April 29 and 30, 1534 in Leipzig, in which Melanchthon was also involved, Vehe defended the Catholic doctrine again. He also spoke out against the apostasy from the old church in numerous writings.

In 1537 Vehe published the first Catholic hymn book with sheet music. Under the title A new song book for all good Christians according to the order of Christian churches , it contains 56 German-language songs. After almost only Latin songs, which were sung mainly by priests and monks, were heard in worship for centuries, Luther introduced German songs into the liturgy, which quickly became popular and effectively spread the Reformation ideas. Vehe recognized the meaning of the songs; his hymn book is a response to the reformatory efforts.

On February 21, 1539, Pope Paul III appointed Vehe to the auxiliary bishop in Halberstadt . However, he died before taking up this post in April of the same year in Halle, where he was buried in the collegiate church.

Works

  • Ein New Gesangbüchlin Geystlicher Lieder , Leipzig 1537; Hanover 1853
  • From the law of the sneezing of the h. Hochw. Sacraments , Leipzig 1531
  • Rescue of the accused goblet thief , Leipzig 1535
  • How differently knows God and his saints should be honored , Leipzig 1532
  • Assertio sacrorum quorumdam axiomatum , Leipzig 1537

Vehes hymn book is a source for church hymn to this day. The best known are the songs:

literature

Web links

Commons : Michael Vehe  - collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Vehe, Michael
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German monk, doctor of the church, auxiliary bishop and editor of the first Catholic hymn book with sheet music
DATE OF BIRTH 1485
PLACE OF BIRTH Biberach near Heilbronn
DATE OF DEATH April 1539
Place of death Halle (Saale)