Heinrich Joseph Floss
Encyclopedia
Heinrich Joseph Floß, or Floss (29 July 1819–4 May 1881), was a church historian and moral theologian
in the 19th century. As a professor of theology at the University of Bonn
, he edited a collection of the work of John Duns Scotus
, the Franciscan theologian. During the Kulturkampf
, Floss was constrained by the anti-Catholic legislation.
, near Düsseldorf
. Here, under the tutelage of the pastor, a man named Binterim, he broadened his studies. He went to the University of Bonn
and in 1846 wrote his dissertation in church history. Before he undertook his larger research project, he traveled to Rome
and Naples
. On his return journey, he also visited Vienna
, Prague
, Munich
and Berlin
.
Initially, his scholarship delved into the early Christian writings, such as his edited epistles of Macarii Aegyptii epistolæ
, homiliarum loci, preces, ad fidem Vaticani, Vindobonensium, Berolinensis, which was published in 1853, and translated into several languages (Modern Greek, Latin, French He was also interested in the emerging Marian phenomenon, and his study of the appearances of Mary, published in 1850, explored the 14th century manuscripts at the Klosterneuburg (German: Neuburg Priory), near Vienna. He edited documents relating to Ottonian Germany and the papal election of Leo as Pope Leo VIII
before the death of Pope John XII
in Die Papstwahl unter den Ottonen With this, he began a long interest in religious conflict in the lower Rhineland, resulting in several publications relating to the region's religious turmoil, such as the Cologne War
and the religious strife in the United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg.
By German Unification in 1871, he was the single Catholic professor in Holy Orders
at the University of Bonn. He was working on a history of the religious conflict in the Duchy of Cleves when he died: Zum Clevisch-Märkischen Kirchenstreit. (Eine Erinnerung aus der früheren Geschichte des Kulturkampfes) was published posthumously by Hanstein, in 1883. His Eroberung des Schlosses Poppelsdorf, Sprengung und Erstürmung der Burg Godesberg und Einnahme der kurfürstlichen Residenzstadt Bonn. November 1583— Februar 1584 remains one of the standard works on the religious strife in the northwestern German states in the late Reformation.
His collection of books on the Reformation was given to the Imperial library in Berlin.
Moral theology
Moral theology is a systematic theological treatment of Christian ethics. It is usually taught on Divinity faculties as a part of the basic curriculum.- External links :*...
in the 19th century. As a professor of theology at the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
, he edited a collection of the work of John Duns Scotus
Duns Scotus
Blessed John Duns Scotus, O.F.M. was one of the more important theologians and philosophers of the High Middle Ages. He was nicknamed Doctor Subtilis for his penetrating and subtle manner of thought....
, the Franciscan theologian. During the Kulturkampf
Kulturkampf
The German term refers to German policies in relation to secularity and the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, enacted from 1871 to 1878 by the Prime Minister of Prussia, Otto von Bismarck. The Kulturkampf did not extend to the other German states such as Bavaria...
, Floss was constrained by the anti-Catholic legislation.
Education
He was born in the village of Wormersdorf on 29 July 1819. At the Gymnasium Munstereifel, he received excellent marks, following which he began his studies in Catholic theology and history at the University of Bonn. He was ordained as a priest in 1842 and served as chaplain in his first years as a priest, in BilkDüsseldorf-Bilk
Bilk, Oberbilk and Unterbilk are parts of Düsseldorf and together with Hamm, Flehe and Volmerswerth they constitute City District 3, which is the most populated district of Düsseldorf with 105,281 inhabitants....
, near Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
. Here, under the tutelage of the pastor, a man named Binterim, he broadened his studies. He went to the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
and in 1846 wrote his dissertation in church history. Before he undertook his larger research project, he traveled to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
. On his return journey, he also visited Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
Career
He received his doctorate of philosophy from the University of Bonn in 1846, and in November 1847 he began work as an adjunct professor (German: privatdozent) there, and as a lecturer in the Theological Seminary. On 14 March 1854, he was promoted to associate professor, and on 19 October 1858 to full professor of moral theology. He dedicated himself with great zeal to his instructional duties and understood the dependence and lives of his many students, to whom he was both fatherly friend and adviser.Initially, his scholarship delved into the early Christian writings, such as his edited epistles of Macarii Aegyptii epistolæ
Macarius of Egypt
Macarius of Egypt was an Egyptian Christian monk and hermit. He is also known as Macarius the Elder, Macarius the Great and The Lamp of the Desert.-Life:...
, homiliarum loci, preces, ad fidem Vaticani, Vindobonensium, Berolinensis, which was published in 1853, and translated into several languages (Modern Greek, Latin, French He was also interested in the emerging Marian phenomenon, and his study of the appearances of Mary, published in 1850, explored the 14th century manuscripts at the Klosterneuburg (German: Neuburg Priory), near Vienna. He edited documents relating to Ottonian Germany and the papal election of Leo as Pope Leo VIII
Pope Leo VIII
Pope Leo VIII , a Roman by birth, is considered by the Church an Antipope from 963 to 964 and a true Pope from 964 to 965. He held the lay office of protoserinus when he was elected pope by the Roman synod in December 963, when it also invalidly deposed Pope John XII , who was still alive...
before the death of Pope John XII
Pope John XII
Pope John XII , born Octavianus, was Pope from December 16, 955, to May 14, 964. The son of Alberic II, Patrician of Rome , and his stepsister Alda of Vienne, he was a seventh generation descendant of Charlemagne on his mother's side.Before his death, Alberic administered an oath to the Roman...
in Die Papstwahl unter den Ottonen With this, he began a long interest in religious conflict in the lower Rhineland, resulting in several publications relating to the region's religious turmoil, such as the Cologne War
Cologne War
The Cologne War devastated the Electorate of Cologne, a historical ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire, present-day North-Rhine-Westphalia, in Germany...
and the religious strife in the United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg.
By German Unification in 1871, he was the single Catholic professor in Holy Orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
at the University of Bonn. He was working on a history of the religious conflict in the Duchy of Cleves when he died: Zum Clevisch-Märkischen Kirchenstreit. (Eine Erinnerung aus der früheren Geschichte des Kulturkampfes) was published posthumously by Hanstein, in 1883. His Eroberung des Schlosses Poppelsdorf, Sprengung und Erstürmung der Burg Godesberg und Einnahme der kurfürstlichen Residenzstadt Bonn. November 1583— Februar 1584 remains one of the standard works on the religious strife in the northwestern German states in the late Reformation.
Publications
- Die Papstwahl unter den Ottonen, nebst ungedruckten Papst- und Kaiserurkunden des IX. und X. Jahrhunderts, darunter das Privilegium Leos VIII. für Otto I. Freiburg im Breisgau, 1858.
- System der katholischen Moraltheologie : ein Grundriss für Vorlesungen. Bonn, 1869.
- Romreise des Abtes Markward von Prüm und Uebertragung der hh. Chrysanthus un Daria nach Münstereifel im Jahre 844. Köln: Heberle, 1869.
His collection of books on the Reformation was given to the Imperial library in Berlin.