Kasper Franck

Background

Kasper Franck was born in Ortrand, Saxony.

Career

Ladislaus von Fraunberg, Count of Haag (1505–1566), who had recently introduced the reformed faith into his province, invited him to his court. The premature death, however, of Ladislaus prevented Franck from carrying out the proposed plans of reform. Albert V, Duke of Bavaria, the successor of Ladislaus, resolved to restore the Catholic religion, and called in the convert and preacher, Martin Eisengrein.

In 1566, he matriculated at the University of Ingolstadt, devoted himself to the study of the Church Fathers and the early Christian Church, and on 25 January 1568, made a formal profession of the Catholic faith.

Albert recognized in him as a man of great usefulness and obtained from Pope Pius V a dispensation to have him ordained a priest. Before beginning his missionary labours, he published a work setting forth the reasons and justification of his return to the ancient faith.

His efforts in Haag and Kraiburg were crowned with success. In 1572, he was again in the University of Ingolstadt, pursuing his theological studies and the following year he was appointed its rector, which office he again held later for several consecutive terms.

He died at Ingolstadt.

Achievements

• On the occasion of the General Jubilee in 1575, he set out for Rome, won at Siena the doctorate in theology and shortly afterwards Pope Gregory XIII conferred on him the title of Prothonotary Apostolic and Comes Lateranensis.