Dietrich Coelde

Dietrich Coelde[1] (1435 – 11 December 1515) was a German Franciscan missionary.

Coelde was born at Münster, made his first studies at Cologne, and entered the Order of the Hermits of St. Augustine at an early age.

In 1618 his remains were exhumed, and, after the suppression of the Franciscan convent at Leuven, were transferred to Sint-Truiden, where they now repose behind the high altar.

In 1470, Coelde composed a brief, popular treatise on the Catholic Faith, entitled "Kerstenspiegel" or "Christenspiegel" (The Christian's Mirror), which is considered to be the first German catechism.

At the request of his friend and admirer, Hermann of Wied, he wrote a series of meditations on the sufferings of Christ, which appeared probably about the same time as the "Christenspiegel".