Clemens Maria Hoffbauer
Clemens Maria Hoffbauer [1]
a Roman Catholic, and the first Redemptorist (q.v.) in Germany, was born at Tasswitz, in Moravia, Sept. 26, 1751. His parents had intended him for the ministry, but the sudden death of his father left his mother in destitute circumstances, and at the age of fifteen Hoffbauer was apprenticed to a baker. While engaged in his trade he studied Latin, and passed an examination in the lower class of a monastery school, determined to become a priest at some future time, if possible. The bishop of Tivoli (later Pius VII) finally took him under his protection, and Hoffbauer succeeded in making his way to Vienna, where he studied at the university. In 1783 he went to Rome, whither he had journeyed already twelve times, and joined the congregation of the Redemptorists. Two years later, after consecration to the priesthood, he returned to Vienna, and then to Warsaw, where a house and a church of St. Benno were placed at his disposal.. From this he and his associates afterwards bore the name of Bennonites. The success of the Redemptorists in the establishment of a monastery at-this place was so great that Pius VI, in 1791, decided to give them an annual support of 100 scudi. The Roman Catholics assert that many Protestants became converts of Hoffbauer, and that their confidence in him and his brothers of the monastery was unbounded. While the latter may be possible, the former is surely improbable. The effect of the French Revolution may have led some disturbing minds to join the ranks of the Roman Catholics, because many of that Church had taken such a peculiar attitude in France against true Christianity. Later Hoffbauer also established a monastery in Switzerland. Here he and his followers suffered great persecution, which, while it is possible that the disturbed state of the people gave rise to it, is more likely to have been provoked by Hoffbauer and his followers. This last supposition receives additional strength from the dealings of Napoleon while in Prussia. He imprisoned them one entire month in the fortress of K strin, and, after a search of their papers, demolished the monastery and discontinued the order. Some time later Hoffbauer succeeded in establishing an educational institution at Vienna, which had been presented to the Redemptorists by a converted (?) Protestant. In 1815 he went to Bulgaria, and returned to Vienna in 1818, where the government (Roman Catholic) ordered him from the country. The intercession of the clergy influenced the emperor not only to annul the order of the government, but to establish even a monastery at Vienna under his own protection. Hoffbauer died suddenly March 25, 1820. In his labors he was assisted by J. T. Hibel, who died in 1807. Initial steps have been taken for his beatification (q.v.). See Posl, Derste deutsche Redemptorist, in s. Leben und Wirken (Reg. 1844); S. Brunner, H. und seine Zeit (Vienna, 1850); Real-Encyklop. f. d. Kathol. Deutschl. 5, 413 sq. (J. H. W.)
