Sebastian Pollinger (Bishop)

Sebastian Pollinger (also Sebastian Bollinger ; * in Burghausen ; † July 8, 1590 in Brixen ) was auxiliary bishop in Würzburg between 1584 and 1590 . In addition, he held the office of rector of the University of Würzburg between 1587 and 1589 .

Life

Early years (until 1583)

Sebastian Pollinger was born in Burghausen in what is now Upper Bavaria in the first half of the 16th century . At that time the city was the seat of one of the four rent offices of the ducal Bavaria. Nothing is known about the family and youth of the future auxiliary bishop, but it is certain that Pollinger first enrolled at the University of Strasbourg after completing his schooling . On December 3, 1573 he moved to the University of Dillingen , where he only remained a student for a few days. The reasons for this frequent change of study are unknown.

With his enrollment in Ingolstadt on December 14, 1573, the young Pollinger's longest station began. First he attended courses in the arts before completing a degree in theology . Pollinger probably came from a poorer background and had to take advantage of a scholarship . On May 20, 1575 he received the so-called Schwebmair'sche benefice. In the meantime, Sebastian Pollinger was promoted to the Ingolstadt seminary and, while still a student, was appointed vice rain of the seminary.

A year later, in 1576, he was a priest in the parish church of St. Moritz in Ingolstadt, where he held the so-called Murrmesse. Two years later, Pollinger was described as having a master's degree . On May 6, 1579, Sebastian Pollinger completed his studies in Ingolstadt with a doctorate in bachelor's degree, and later he was also given the title of licentiate.

In 1581 he was given a pastoral position at the Ingolstadt Liebfrauenmünster , the so-called Upper Parish. The parish church was also the university's house of worship and thus an important figurehead for the city. Most of their pastors in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Era were therefore also professors at the local theology faculty. Pollinger managed to preach at the renowned parish church even without this title. It thus formed an important interface between the city and the university.

Auxiliary Bishop in Würzburg (until 1590)

In 1583 the Würzburg University Rector Veit Krebser had the Pro-Chancellor of Ingolstadt University, Hunger, look for a suitable candidate for the office of auxiliary bishop in Würzburg. Hunger chose the young theologian Pollinger, who gave up his pastor in the same year. As a supply point in Würzburg, he was initially assigned a benefice at the Haug Collegiate Foundation . In Würzburg, consecration duties increased rapidly due to the Counter-Reformation of Bishop Julius Echter.

On August 16 and 17, 1584 Sebastian Pollinger was founded by Pope Gregory XIII. appointed bishop of Salona and auxiliary bishop in Würzburg. As early as December 8, 1584, the Auxiliary Bishop of Bamberg, Johann Ertlin , consecrated him as the new bishop with the help of Abbots John IV of Münsterschwarzach and Kilian of St. Stephan . Pollinger moved into the Würzburg Schottenkloster in the left Main area of ​​the city as a new residence and also carried out most of the ordinations here.

Pollinger took over the first personal consecrations on December 22nd. As a result of the counter-reformation efforts of Bishop Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn , the number of new priests grew and the ordinations also experienced an increase. In contrast to his successors in the office of auxiliary bishop in particular, Sebastian Pollinger hardly made any church agreements. Shortly before his appointment, Pollinger came to Neumünster Abbey as a canon , and it wasn't until 1587 that he received a whole benefice as income.

In 1587, Julius Echter appointed Pollinger Rector magnificus of the newly founded University of Würzburg . He held this office for a total of two years. At the same time he rose to the highest management body of the bishopric with the appointment to the clergy . However, Pollinger was hardly active in the spiritual council, but only took part in the meetings of the committee. Similar to his predecessor Antonius Rescius , the consecration tasks were the focus of his activity.

Nonetheless, Pollinger was repeatedly selected for representative tasks outside the diocese. Together with his later successor, Eucharius Sang , he brought the ad limina report to the Pope in 1590 . On the way back, the auxiliary bishop fell ill in the pilgrimage site of Loreto . Sebastian Pollinger succumbed to his illness on July 8, 1590 in Brixen. The body was transferred to Würzburg and buried in the Neumünster Church. The testamentary of Pollinger's Johann Wilhelm Ganzhorn ( Dean of Neumünster and University Rector ) had an honorary inscription placed in the church.

literature

• Veronika Heilmannseder: The spiritual council of the diocese of Würzburg under Friedrich von Wirsberg (1558–1573) and Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn (1573–1617) (= sources and research on the history of the diocese and bishopric of Würzburg, vol. LXXIII) . Wuerzburg 2014.

Web links

• Catholic hierarchy: Entry on Sebastian Pollinger , English
• WürzburgWiki: Sebastian Pollinger

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Heilmannseder, Veronika: The Spiritual Council of the Diocese of Würzburg . P. 418 (footnote).
2. ↑ Heilmannseder, Veronika: The Spiritual Council of the Diocese of Würzburg . P. 420.
3. ↑ Heilmannseder, Veronika: The Spiritual Council of the Diocese of Würzburg . P. 423.