Jacob Gretser

He entered the Society of Jesus in 1578, and nine years later he defended publicly theses covering the whole field of theology.

He was recognized as one of the best controversialists of his time, and was highly esteemed by Pope Clement VIII, Emperor Ferdinand II, and Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria.

Some of the greatest of his age, such as Cardinal Bellarmine and Markus Welser, corresponded with him and consulted him in their difficulties.

He edited or explained many works of the patristic and medieval writers, and composed erudite treatises on most diverse subjects.

Carlos Sommervogel enumerates two hundred and twenty-nine titles of printed works and thirty-nine manuscripts attributed to Gretser, but it is convenient to follow the grouping of his writings as they are distributed in the seventeen folios of the complete edition which appeared in Ratisbon (1734–1741).