Matthew of Kraków

Matthew of Krakow (c. 1335/40 in Krakow, † March 5, 1410 in Heidelberg) was a Catholic theologian, professor at the University of Heidelberg, which he was Rector from 1396 to 1397. 1405-1410 he was Bishop of Worms.

Life

Matthew was born the son of a German town clerk in Krakow and studied from 1365 at the University of Prague, where he subsequently also taught. Until 1380 it belonged to the Faculty of Arts and then joined the Faculty of Theology, where he earned his doctorate in 1384 and included, inter alia, Nicholas Magni of Jawor and Matthias von Liegnitz to his pupils. He also worked in Prague as a city preacher who advocated religious and ecclesiastical reform. On behalf of the University in 1379, he undertook a journey to Pope Urban VI. and 1385 to Genoa. From 1390 to 1394 he stayed back in Krakow, where he was probably involved in the reorganization of the university.

1394 he moved to the University of Heidelberg on a well-endowed theological professorship. 1395 he was appointed dean of the theological faculty, and from 1396 to 1397 he held the office of the rector. 1396, he was the preacher the right of free choice pulpit. Already in 1395 the Elector Ruprecht II had appointed him to the Privy Council and confessor. As one of the leading theologians he was used as a consultant on the issue of Pope schism from the electoral court, the center of the Roman obedience in Germany, and exercised by theological and church politics substantial influence. In 1396 he was equipped with a canonry in Speyer.

With the election of the elector Ruprecht III. King of Germany and began his political activity. He assisted with the Hofjuristen job Vener the king to build a government center in Nuremberg, traveled in 1401 as an envoy to France and led together with the Speyer bishop Raban of Helmstatt with the Roman Curia lengthy and arduous negotiations to the approval, on 1 only October 1403 could be successfully completed. He represented the king also at the Council of Pisa in 1409, where he sought to prevent the three division of the Church.

On June 19, 1405, he was appointed by Pope Innocent VII Bishop of Worms, 1408, and 1409 for Cardinal legate for Germany. He was still active as an advisor to the king, and for the University of Heidelberg. In Worms he held there was hardly on, as the city was banned due to political tensions.

He left behind an extensive literary work with collections of sermons and theological writings, which had continued until the Reformation. In it he dealt primarily with the Christian life and practice of pastoral care. In his sermons, he moved into a clear stand against the undignified behavior primarily of secular priests with their theological and pastoral ignorance indifference. He criticized their greed, their pursuit of private pleasures and the sale of offices. Despite his criticism, he was always open to discussions with the official Church. He died on 5 March 1410 in Heidelberg and was buried in the choir of the cathedral of Worms. His extensive library for its time he left the University of Heidelberg.