Justus Knecht

Friedrich Justus Heinrich Knecht (7 October 1839 – 31 January 1921)[1] was a German Catholic theologian and writer who served as Auxiliary Bishop of Freiburg from 1894 until his death in 1921.

From 1879 to 1882 he was pastor in Schuttertal, and in 1882 Archbishop Johann Baptist Orbin appointed him to his cathedral chapter and entrusted him with the schools and religious education in the Archdiocese of Freiburg.

In the same year Knecht published his Practical Commentary on Biblical History, which remained in use in German-speaking regions for an entire generation.

Following the death of Archbishop Johann Baptist Orbin in 1886, Knecht was considered a possible successor, but was removed from the list of candidates by the Baden state government.

In recognition of his services as a religious education teacher and his successful literary activities, the Bruchsal city council awarded him honorary citizenship on the occasion of his approaching 80th birthday on 2 October 1919.