Johann von Staupitz OSA (c. 1460 – 28 December 1524) was a German Catholic priest and theologian, university preacher,[1] and Vicar General of the Augustinian friars in Germany,[2] who supervised Martin Luther during a critical period in his spiritual life.

"[3] Although he remained Catholic, died as a Benedictine monk and had repudiated the Reformation, he is commemorated on 8 November as a priest in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.

Descended from an old Saxon family of Czech origin (ze Stupic),[4] he matriculated in the year 1485 and was accepted into the Augustinian order of friars in Munich before being posted to Tübingen, where he was eventually promoted to the rank of prior.

At least once, Luther spent six hours confessing to Staupitz, who responded to the young man's doubts by counselling him on the Means of Grace and on salvation through the blood of Christ.

In his last letter to Luther in 1524, Staupitz made it clear he was bitter about the direction of the Reformation and its seemingly willful destruction of the unity of the Christian Church.