Haller, Leonhard

views updated

HALLER, LEONHARD

Theologian; b. Denkendorf, Germany, early 16th century; d. Eichstätt, March 23, 1570. He was engaged in the pastoral ministry at Munich in 1533. Shortly afterward he went to Eichstätt, where he distinguished himself as a preacher and served in several posts. In 1540 he was named auxiliary to Moritz von Hutten, Bishop of Eichstätt. Later he served as vicar-general of the diocese under Bp. Martin von Schaumberg. From July 16, 1562, until July 15, 1563, he represented Bishop von Schaumberg at the Council of Trent. At this time the council was considering the possibility of acceding to the demands of Luther to the extent of allowing reception of communion under both species. Haller strongly opposed any such concession in Germany, although he confessed that he did this on his own authority, and not as the spokesman of the bishop of Eichstätt. Haller was author of Grund und Kundschaft aus göttlicher Geschrift und den hl. Vätern dass Fleisch und Blut Christi in der hl. Mess wahrhaftiglich geopfert wird (Eichstätt 1553).

Bibliography: a. franzen, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, ed. j. hofer and k. rahner, 10 v. (2d, new ed. Freiburg 195765) 4:1335.

[c. r. meyer]