Stephan Jakob Neher
Stephan Jakob Neher (24 July 1829 – 7 October 1902) was a German Catholic priest and church historian.
Life
His family were country people of Ebnat, where he was born, which became a part of Aalen) in Württemberg. After the gymnasium school Neher devoted himself to the study of theology in the University of Tübingen. After ordination, he worked as pastor of Dorfmerkingen, then of Tübingen, and finally of Nordhausen (in the district of Ellwangen, Württemberg). In addition, Neher devoted himself throughout his life to intellectual pursuits, principally to canon law and church history, giving his attention, in the latter study, chiefly to ecclesiastical geography and statistics.[1]
Neher died in Nordhausen.[1]
Works
In his first major work, which appeared in 1861, Neher dealt with the topic of the privileged altar (altare privilegiatum). In 1864 he published the first volume of his trilogy Kirchliche Geographie und Statistik (Ratisbon, 1864–68). It was, for that day, an important work for historians, a systematic collection of geographical data. His book on the celebration of two Masses by a priest on the same day in canon law was entitled Die Bination nach ihrer geschichtlichen Entwicklung und nach dem heutigen Recht (Ratisbon, 1874). After 1878 Neher edited the statistical "Personalkatalog" of his own diocese of Rottenburg am Neckar, and was one of the principal contributors to the second edition of Wetzer und Welte's Kirchenlexicon. For this work he wrote 235 articles, or greater parts of articles. Their content is mainly matter relating to church history, or to ecclesiastical statistics.[1]
Source discussion
Attribution
From the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
Stephan Jakob Neher — Church historian; b. at Ebnat, 24 July, 1829; d. at Nordhausen, 7 Oct., 1902. His family were country people of Ebnat, a village in the district of Neresheim in W¸rtemberg, and upon the conclusion of his studies in the gymnasium Neher devoted himself to the study of theology in the University of T¸bingen. After his ordination, he laboured as pastor of Dorfmerkingen, then of Z-bingen, and finally of Nordhausen (in the district of Ellwangen, W¸rtemberg). In addition, Neher devoted himself throughout his life to intellectual pursuits, principally to canon law and church history, giving his attention, in the latter study, chiefly to the two branch sciences of ecclesiastical geography and ecclesiastical statistics, in which he acccomplished great results. In his first considerable work, which appeared in 1861, he deals with the topic of the privileged Altar (altare privilegiatum). In 1864 he published the first volume of his great and carefully planned work, "Kirchliche Geographie und Statistik", which comprises three volumes (Ratisbon, 1864-68). It was, for that day, a most important work, indispensable to historians. Its author was one of the first in modern times to recognize the importance of this branch of church history, collecting with great care material often very difficult to procure, and arranging it systematically. His book on the celebration of two Masses by a priest on the same day pertains to canon law, and it bears the title: "Die Bination nach ihrer geschichtlichen Entwicklung und nach dem heutigen Recht" (Ratisbon, 1874). After 1878 Neher edited the statistical "Personalkatalog" of his own diocese of Rottenburg, and was one of the principal contributors to the second edition of the Kirchenlexikon of Wetzer and Welte. For this work he wrote no fewer than 235 articles, or greater parts of articles. Their content is chiefly matter relating to church history, or to ecclesiastical statistics; his best articles are those relating to the latter subject; those of purely historical interest are often imperfect.
References
- Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 Back to citation occurrence 1.2 Kirsch, J.P. (1911). "Stephan Jakob Neher". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company.