Johannes Geiler Von Kaysersberg

1445-1510. Roman Catholic preacher and reformer. Born in Schaffhausen, he studied at the universities of Freiburg im Breisgau and Basle, taught at Freiburg, then became people's priest in Strasbourg. In theology he was a nominalist, but highly oriented his theology to his pastoral concerns. According to the nominalists, in the covenant relationship between God and man, God is regarded as a God who is faithful to His commitments. His grace is given to those who turn to Him, disposing themselves by their natural capacities to His gracious gifts. God gives His grace to those who do their very best. God's justice, human responsibility, and the act of creation are emphasized in nominalism. Geiler is noted especially as a preacher, effective in reaching the common people through his German sermons. Although not a humanist, he stressed the need for reform and influenced Bishop Wilhelm von Honstein in his reformatory endeavors. Geiler has been called “the prince of the pulpit in the late fifteenth century.”