(K. Schmidt.)
DIEKAMP, FRANZ: Roman Cathohc; b. at Geldern (65 m. s.w. of Munster) Nov. 8, 1864. He studied at Munster, Eichstatt, and Munich from 1882 to 1887; became chaplain at Camp, 1888; lecturer in the theological seminary at Munster 1889; student at Munich, 1896; privat-docent for
RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA Dieckhoff
Dietary Laws of the Hebrews
patrology and the history of dogmatics at Munich, 1898; associate professor, 1902, and full professor, 1904. He has written Die Gotteslehre des heiligen Gregor von Nyssa (Miinster, 1896); Hippolytos von Theben (1898); and Die origenistischen Streitigkeiten im sechsten Jahrhundert und das filnfte allgemeine Concil (1899), and has edited the Theologische Revue since 1902.
DIEPENBROCK, MELCHIOR VON: Cardinal; b. at Bocholt (44 m. w. of Miinster) Jan. 6, 1798; d. at the castle of Johannesberg at Jauernig (52 ra. n.w. of Troppau) Jan. 20, 1853. In 1810 he was sent to the military academy of Bonn, but was soon expelled for insubordination. Permeated with the rising spirit of nationalism which inspired the Germany of the period, he became a lieutenant of militia and later entered a regiment of the line, serving in France and also in garrisonduty. Resigning on the advice of his superiors, he returned to his home, and was there converted by Michael Sailer, who was then professor at Landshut. He then studied at Landshut, and in 1819 decided to enter the priesthood, and studied at Mainz, Miinster, and Regensburg, where Sailer had been a canon since 1821. On Dec. 27, 1823, Diepenbrock was ordained priest, and then entered on his duties as Sailer's secretary, devoting himself especially to the mysticism of the Middle Ages, the result being his Heinrich Susos Leben und Schriften (Regensburg, 1829) and the Geistlicher Bliithenstrauss (Sulzbach, 1829). When SaUer was consecrated bishop of Regensburg in 1829, Diepenbrock, after long hesitation, accepted a canonry, and under Bishop Valentine rose to be vicar-general. He soon resigned, however, and in a brief period of retirement prepared a translation from Hendrik Conscience under the title of Vlamisches Stilleben (Regensburg, 1845). He was consecrated prince bishop of Breslau on July 27, 1845. Within a year he found himself obliged to excommunicate all the " German Catholics " to check the disturbances which this movement caused in the diocese of Breslau, while in the revolution of 1848 he urged obedience to the government. On the other hand, he firmly advocated the independence of the Church as regards the State, and protested against the oath to support the constitution which was required of the clergy who held official positions. Only the conciliatory attitude of the State prevented serious controversies. A papal brief of Oct. 24, 1849, appointed him vicar apostolic for the Prussian Army. As prince bishop of Breslau Diepenbrock furthered the cause of monasteries, and encouraged Redemptorist and Jesuit missions among the laity. He was created cardinal by Pius IX. in 1850, and in this capacity became involved in a controversy with the Protestant general superintendent of Silesia, who complained of the missionary propaganda of the Roman Catholics, only to receive a sharp rebuff from Diepenbrock. (Heinrich Schmidt.)
Bibliography: Lives are by H. Forster, Regensburg, 1878; J. H. Reinkens, Leipsic, 1881; M. Rottscher, Frankfort, 1886; B. Boenisch, Oppeln, 1898; H. Finke. Zur Erinnerung an Kardinal Melchior von Diepenbrock, Miinster, 1898.
DIES IRJE. See Thomas of Celano.
DIESTEL, dis'tel, LUDWIG: Theologian and church historian; b. at Konigsberg Sept. 28, 1825; d. at Tubingen May 15, 1879. He entered the University of Konigsberg in 1844 to prepare himself for the clerical calling, and in Oct., 1847, went to Berlin; in 1848 he migrated to Bonn, where he became privat-docent in 1851, and there, during a residence of seven years, lived in intimate friendship with Ritschl. He was made extraordinary professor in 1858, and in 1862 went to Greifswald, where he held the chair of Old Testament exegesis. In 1867 he became professor at Jena, and in 1872 at Tubingen. After 1871 he was a member of the Halle committee for the revision of the Luther Bible. Diestel's work on the Old Testament was that of the theologian rather than of the philologist or textual critic. His fame rests chiefly on his Geschichte des Alien Testaments in der christlichen Kirche (Jena, 1869), a valuable storehouse of information on Old Testament exegesis and hermeneutics. The work may be characterized as a history of the study of the Old Testament in the Christian Church rather than as a history of the Bible in itself. Of especial importance is the division of the guiding principles in the correct method of investigation of the Old Testament into national, historical, and religious. Diestel's only independent works, in addition to the one already mentioned, were Der Segen Jakobs in Genesis XLIX historisch erldutert (Brunswick, 1853); Ueber die Theokratie Israels (Greifswald, 1864); and a revision of the fourth edition of August Knobel's commentary on Isaiah (Leipsic, 1872). (E. Kautzsch.)