Hosius, Stanislaus

Hosius, Stanislaus A distinguished Romish theologian of Poland, of Germans origin, was born at Cracow May 5,1504. He studied at Padua and Bologna, and obtained, on his return to Poland in 1538, a canonry. He was afterwards made secretary to the king, and, in 1549, bishop of Culm. He was entrusted by the king with important missions to the emperors Charles V and Ferdinand I; and as a reward for his services was made also bishop of Ermeland. Hosius was an ardent opponent of Luther, and having written the Confessio catholicae fidei (Mayence, 1551, etc.) in opposition to the Augsburg Confession, he was rewarded with a cardinal's hat. He attended the Council of Trent as legate, and afterwards returned to Poland, where he used his influence in favor of the Jesuits, and in 1564, to prevent the spread of Lutheranism, he established the College of Braunsberg, called after him Collegium Hosianum, and still existing with the two faculties of theology and philosophy. He afterwards made a journey to Rome for the purpose of settling some questions of importance to the Polish Church, but was detained by pope Gregory XIII, who received him with the highest honors. He died at Caprarola Aug. 15, 1579. 'A collection of his works has been published under the title Opera omnia(Col. 1584, 2 vols. folio). It contains De Conmmn7ione sub utraque Specie; De Sacerdotum conjugio; De Alissa vulgari lingual celebranda, etc. See Father Paul, History of the Council. of Trent; Krasinski, Ref. in Poland (London, 1840, 2 vols.); Ch. Hist. 13th Cent. p. 243; Ranke, Hist. of the Popes, 2, 82; Mosheim, Church Hist. 3, 98; Bayle, Hist. Dict. 3, 499 sq.; Wetzer und Welte, Kirchen-Lex. 5, 339 sq.; Aschbach, Kirche. — Lex. 3, 333 sq.; Schröckh, Kirchengesch sd. Reform. 2, 695; Palavicini, Hist. Concilii Trident. lib. 2 ch. 4; Ersch u. Gruber, A1g. Encyklop.; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Géneralé, 25, 210; Eichhorn, Der Bischof Stan. rosius (Mainz, 1844-55, 2 vols.).