Browe, Peter
BROWE, PETER
Theologian and historian; b. Salzburg, Dec. 22, 1876; d. Baden-Baden, May 18, 1949. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1895 and dedicated himself to research in medieval moral and pastoral theology. He taught these subjects in the Society's houses of study at Maastricht, Valkenburg, Frankfurt, and Immensee. In time his interest turned to the medieval religious folklore. With unflagging research, he achieved an uncommon knowledge of the sources. Of lasting value are his numerous works on the historical development of Eucharistic devotion: De frequenti Communione in Ecclesia occidentali usque ad annum circa 1000 (Rome 1932), De Ordaliis (2 v. Rome 1932–33), Die Verehrung der Eucharistie im Mittelalter (Munich 1933), Die häufige Kommunion im Mittelalter (Münster 1938), Die eucharistischen Wunder des Mittelalters (Breslau 1938), Die Pflichtkommunion im Mittelalter (Münster 1940). It is precisely because of his calm objectivity that his purely scientific works are of such significance, even for the practical consequences of a timely theology and liturgy of the Eucharist. He also wrote Beiträge zur Sexualethik des Mittelalters (Breslau 1932) and Die Judenmission im Mittelalter und die Päpste (Rome 1942).
Bibliography: h. tÜchle, Neue deutsche Bibliographie (Leipzig 1875–1910) 2:639. a. stenzel, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche (Freiburg 1957–65) 2:710.
[b. neunheuser]