Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 15.djvu/711

 WIMPFELING

649

WINCHESTER

SI. Vincenz in Prnnsylmnicn (New York. 1873); Mooa- UL^ELLER, Bonifm Wimmtrr, Krzabl von St. Vincem in Pennsyl- ranifn (New York. IS',11).

Walter Stehle.

Wimpfeling, Jakob, humanist and theologian, b. at Schlpttstadt, Alsace, 25 July, 1450; d. there, 17 Nov., 1.52S. He went to the .sehool at Schlettstadt con- ducted by Ludwig Dringenberg, and from 1404 was astudent at the University of Freiburg (haccalaureus, 1466); later he went to Erfurt and Heidelberg (mag- ister, 1471). He then studied canon law for three years, and finally theology. In 14S3 he w;is cathedral preacher at Speyer. In 1498 Philip, the Elector Palatine, called him to Heidelberg as professor of rhetoric and poetry. From 1513 he lived at Schlett- stadt, where a circle of pupils and admirers gathered around him. Differences of opinion caused by the Lutheran doctrine broke up this literary society, and Wimpfeling died lonesome and embittered.

His literary career began with a few publications in which he urged the more frequent holding of synods, the veneration of the Blessed Virgin, and an improvement of the discipline of the clergy. The " Elegantiarum medulla" (1493) is an extract from Valla's books on the elegance of the Latin language. In the "Isi- doneus germanicus" (1496) he presented his peda- gogical ideals, and opposed Scholasticism. The teaching of grammar should lead to the reading of heathen writers who were not immoral and especially of the Christian WTiters. He also laid emphasis on learning the practical sciences. His most im- portiint work, " Adolescent ia" (l.'jOO), was intended to supplement "Lsidoneus". Here he set forth the ethical side of his pedagogical scheme. The troubles of the Church spring from the bad training of the young; consequently, young people must be trained 80 as to be well-established in morals. He then dis- cusses the details of twenty laws for young men. He showed himself a fier>- patriot in the " Germanic" (1.501), which involved him in a feud with Murner. His "Epitome rerum germanicarum " is a short his- tory of the Germans, drawn in some particulars from other historians. In several wTitings he opposed abuses in the Church. After Luther's excommunica- tion he took part in the attempt to prevail upon the Curia to withdraw the ban. This catised him to be suspected of having written a lampoon on the Curia, "Litaneia pro Germania", that was probably com- posed by Hermann von dem Busche. In 1521 he submitted to the Church, of which he was ever aftem'ards a loyal son. In 1524 he added to Emser's dialogue against Zwingli's "Canonis missa" defensio", a letter to Luther and Zwingli, in which he exhorted them to examine the Scriptures carefully in order to discover for themselves that the Canon of the Mass contains nothing contrary to the doctrines and cus- toms of the early Cluirch. He then retired from the Btruggle, and was ridiculed by fanatical partisans of Luther as a renegade and a persecutor of heretics. He was one of the best representatives of moderate humanism, one who honestly sought .and wanted much that w.is good, but who generally only half attained his desires.

Schmidt. Hxtlnire liufraire de I'AUace (Paris, 1879), I, 1-187; II, 317-39: Kneppeb. Jakob Wimpfrling^ (Freiburg. 1902).

Klemens Loffler.

Wimpina (Wimin.e, Wiminensis), Konrad, theolo- gian, b. at Buchen in Baden, about 1465; d. at Amor- bach in Ijower Fr.anconia, 17 May, 1.531. His family, whose name was Koch, came from Wimpfen on the Neckar, hence he w.i.s called W'impina. He matricu- lated at the T'niversity of Leipzig (1479-SO) and remained there until 1.505; in 14S1 he obtiiined the baccalaureate degree, and in 1485 wa,s made mngister. He was a pupil of Martin Polich of Mellerstadt and an .adherent of Thomistic philosophy. In 1491 he was made a member of the philosophical faculty, in

He then retired to his

1494 rector, and in 1494-95 dean. Having taken the theological cour.se, he was made cursor in 1491 and scnientiurius in 1494; in 1.502 he received the degree of licentiate. He was ordained at Wiirzburg, in 1495, as subdeacon, and about 1500 as priest. He received the degree of Doc- tor of Theology from Cardinal- Legate Perandi at Leipzig, 1.503. In 1.505 Elector Jo- achim I of Bran- denburg called W i m p i n a to Frankfort- on -t he- Oder to organize the new uni\-er- sity and to be its first rector; he was several times dean of the theological faculty. He re- ceived canonries in the cathedrals of Brandenburg and Hiivelberg, and in 1530 took part in the Diet of Augs- burg as theologian of the Elector Joachim, whom he accompanied to Cologne for the election of King Ferdinand native land.

His first pubUcation, "Ars epistolandi" (1486), and a poem in praise of the university and city of Leipzig (1488) are of httle importance. In 1493 Wimpina showed in the "Tractatus de erroribus philosopho- rum" that Aristotle was WTong in various propositions which disagreed with dogma. As rector he delivered several orations that show wide reading. From 1500- 04, in a dispute with his former instructor Pohch, Wimpina defended theology and Polich poetry, each attacking the other with ex.iggerated and personal abuse. Wimpina was one of Luther's first opponents. In 1518 ho defended the legend that St. Anne had three husbands in succession and had a child Mary, by each one of them (De d. Anna" trinubio), against Sylvius Egranus, in whose defence Luther took part. In the dispute over indulgences Wimpina composed the theses which Johann Tetzel debated at Frankfort, 20 January, 1518. These theses contained the doc- trine of the Church, but on the question of indul- gences for the dead maintained merely a Scholastic opinion, preached by Tetzel. He also WTote a series of treatises and held disputations against Luther's doctrine. His polemics are combined in the "Anace- phala"Osis" (1.52S), one of the most complete refuta- tions of Lutheranism. In that age of pamphlets the work did not receive the attention it deserved. At the Diet of Augsburg Wimpina, Mousing, Redorfer, and Elgersina drew up, against Luther's seventeen vSwabian .articles, the "Christlichon Untorricht gegen die Bekanntnus M. Luthers". Wimpina was commis- sioned to confute the "Confessio Augustana", and took part in the disputation .about retmion. He was conservative, (juiet, of unimpeachable character, immov.able in his convictions, but somewhat petty by nature.

Wimpina, Farrago mixcettaneorum, ed. Host (Cologne. 1531); MlTTEBMULLEH, Wimpina in Kalholik (1809). I, 641-81: II, 1-20, 129-65, 257-85. 385-403; Neqwer, Wimpina (Breslau. 1909).

Klemens Loffler.

Winchester, .\ncient See of (Wintonia, Win- TONiENSLs). — This diocese came into existence in 635 when the great missionary Diocese of Dorchester,