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He was a poet and Jesuit theologian born in Kaiserwerth,
Germany. He studied in Cologne
and in 1610 joined the Society of Jesus where he would take further education
and work as a teacher in various locations in Germany. In 1622 he was ordained as a priest
and in 1624 he took the position of professor at the University of
Paderborn. In 1626 he started
preaching in Cologne, Hildesheim and Paderborn and he also taught in
several German towns and cities.
He made his voice heard as an opponent of witch trials and torture
and during the Thirty Years War, in 1629, he experienced an assassination
attempt. After this happened he worked on his writings and he is most
remembered for his Latin written Cautio Criminalis, which is possibly
based on his own experience of witch trials. The work was published uncredited in 1631 and he had
never given his permission for this to happen, but it is known that after
it became recognised in cities such as Mainz, with burning was abolished. He returned to his duties as a
professor and preacher and in 1633 he went to Trier. Trier was stormed in 1635 and he
became known for caring for those who suffered at the hands of the forces,
but sadly he caught an infection while working in a hospital where people
suffered illnesses such as plague and died shortly after when he was just
44. As a poet and lyricist he
wrote the books Goldenes Tugendbuch (Golden Book of Virtues) and Trutznachtigal
(In Disregard of Nightingales) and his most famous piece that is still
heard to day is the Christmas carol "Wals ich bei meinen Schafen wacht"
which is known by the names "While By The Sheep", "How Great Our Joy" and "Echo
Carol".
While By The Sheep recordings
Leroy Anderson
and His Orchestra
Decca B0003552-02 (CD: A Leroy Anderson Christmas)
Sources:
- http://www.controverscial.com/Friedrich%20von%20Spee.htm
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_von_Spee
- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14213b.htm
- http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/while_by_the_sheep.htm
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