Dissolve the monasteries!

[Eybel, Josef Valentin]. Sieben Kapitel von Klosterleuten.

€ 250.00

Second issue of this enlightened, anti-monastic work. The author discusses the outdated monastic way of life in 156 propositions, concluding with a demand to abolish monastic orders as soon as possible (as many orders and monasteries indeed were in under Joseph II, that very year). Eybel (1741-1805), professor of Canon Law, "had been intended for the clergy and studied philosophy, Greek and Hebrew with the Jesuits before changing his plans [...] Slights and unpleasantnesses which he attracted by his writings forced him to relinquish his chair in 1779 [...] His tone in matters of the church caused the displeasure of Cardinal Migazzi and ultimately his excommunication by the Roman court" (cf. Wurzbach).

Slight brownstaining.