Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld
Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld was a 17th-century German Jesuit priest and poet, notable for his opposition to witchcraft trials and his advocacy for the rights of the accused. Born in the late 1500s, he received his education at Jesuit institutions and entered the Society of Jesus, where he began to witness the severe persecution associated with witchcraft hysteria in Germany. Spee's experiences during this turbulent period deeply troubled him, particularly as he comforted the victims of these trials, reportedly accompanying over 300 women to their executions.
In 1631, he published his significant work, "Cautio Criminalis," which condemned the brutal trial practices and torture prevalent at the time, asserting the principle of "innocent until proven guilty." Despite the backlash from his peers and local authorities, Spee's writings contributed to evolving views on justice and human rights. He was also a prolific hymn writer, with 126 hymns attributed to him still used in Catholic worship today. Spee's life came to a tragic end in 1635 when he succumbed to the plague while serving as a chaplain on the battlefield. His legacy remains influential in discussions of justice, ethics, and the impact of religious persecution.
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Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld
- Born: February 25, 1591
- Birthplace: Kaiserswerth, Germany
- Died: August 7, 1635
Biography
Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld was born in the late 1500’s in Germany. He was educated initially at a Jesuit school in Cologne called the Tricoronatum, but transferred to the Montanum school in 1608 to escape the plague. The following year Spee received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cologne. He then entered the Society of Jesus and took up residence in the novitiate in Trier.
It was while living in Trier as a novice priest that Spee experienced his first exposure to witchcraft trials, which had been occurring for nearly twenty years. Hundreds of people in Trier had been burned at the stake within a span of seven years. No one was safe from the persecution and thousands of innocent people “confessed” under torture. These trials bothered Spee immensely.
During a plague outbreak in the region in 1612, Spee was removed to the town of Fulda, where he took his first priestly vows. He then went to Würzburg, where he received his master’s degree in philosophy in 1615. Spee spent the next four years teaching in various towns, until he settled in Mainz to study theology. During the years Spee spent teaching, he began writing hymns, of which he would eventually compose 126 that are used in Catholic hymnals today.
The witchcraft hysteria that so disturbed Spee was still raging across the country. After his official ordination as a Jesuit priest in 1622, Spee, who was teaching in Paderborn at the time, began to visit and comfort the innocent victims of the craze. It is believed that Spee accompanied more than three hundred women to their executions.
In 1629, Spee was attacked by unknown assailants on his way to officiate a church service. Despite suffering numerous gunshot wounds, Spee tried to perform mass. He collapsed and was taken to a Benedictine monastery to recover. It was during his convalescence that Spee began to compose his poetry collection, Trutz-Nachtigall (defiant nightingale). The poems deal with subjects such as the life of Christ, songs of repentance, and reflections on sorrow.
In 1631, Spee released Cautio Criminalis (precautions in criminal matters), which condemned trial procedures and torture. Spee outlined the rights of the accused, including the concept of “innocent until proven guilty.” He also criticized the notion of Satanic pacts supposedly made by witches.
Spee had not intended to release Cautio criminalis, but the Benedictines published it despite his protests. Spee found himself immediately denounced by his fellow Jesuits and condemned by the local bishops. He returned to the remote outpost of Trier to escape imprisonment and persecution. Spee died in 1635 from the plague after he served on the battlefield as a confessor for dying French soldiers. Two of Spee’s other works, his previously unreleased poetry collection and a book of spiritual advice, Güldenes Tugend-Buch (golden book of virtue), were released posthumously.