Francis Xavier Schmalzgrueber

Canonist, b. at Griesbach, Bavaria, 9 Oct., 1663; d. at Dillingen 7 Nov., 1735. Entering the Society of Jesus in 1679 he made his studies at Ingolstadt, obtaining the doctorate both in theology and canon law. He taught humanities at Munich, Dillingen, and Neuburg; philosophy at Mindelheim, Augsburg, and Ingolstadt; dogmatic theology at Innsbruck and Lucerne. From 1703 to 1716 (with an interruption of two years when he occupied the chair of moral theology) he was professor of canon law, alternating between Dillingen and Ingolstadt. He was twice chancellor of the University of Dillingen; for two years censor of books for the Jesuits at Rome, and for a like period prefect of studies at Munich. His judgment and clearness in expounding questions in ecclesiastical jurisprudence cause him to be held in great esteem even today. His chief work, “Jus Ecclesiasticum Universum”, first published at Ingolstadt in 1817, underwent various editions, the last appearing at Rome (1843-5) in twelve quarto volumes. A compendium of this work was styled “Succincta sacrorum canonum doctrina”; another, “Compendium juris ecclesiastici”; both were published at Augsburg in 1747. Grandclaude’s work (Paris, 1882-3) is practically a compendium of Schmalzgrueber. Other writings are: “Judicium ecclesiasticum”, “Clerus saecularis et regularis”, “Sponsalia et matrimonia”, “Crimen fori ecclesiastici”, “Consilia seu responsa Juris”; all appeared at Augsburg between 1712 and 1722.