Keller, Adam

Catholic clergyman, clerical councillor

born: 11.08.1839 in Horbach

Died: 31.05.1911 in Wiesbaden

Keller studied theology in Würzburg and Mainz and was ordained a priest in 1862. After working briefly in Limburg as an episcopal chaplain, he became a teacher at the Latin school in Eltville in 1863 and at the school teachers' seminary in Montabaur from 1869-84. In 1888, he became a parish priest and dean in Wiesbaden and was appointed an ecclesiastical councillor (title Monsignor) and in 1890 was appointed a papal house prelate. He was also a military chaplain.

During his time in office, the number of Catholics in Wiesbaden doubled (1911: 35,000) and made it necessary to divide the previously single parish of St. Boniface. The Maria Hilf Church was built in 1893/95, an emergency chapel on Waldstraße in 1905 and construction of the Trinity Church began in 1910. Keller knew how to acquire donations that benefited the church buildings as well as various charitable institutions, such as St. Joseph's Hospital. From 1895 to 1900, he was diocesan president for the journeymen's associations.

In a pamphlet that went through 30 editions, he took a stand in a dispute over church confession and defended the prevailing Catholic practice of penance. He also published several successful pedagogical writings and a guidebook for married couples. His sermons and reflections were later collected in four volumes under the title "In those days".

He was a Knight of the Order of the Iron Crown III Class, the Order of the Red Eagle 4th Class and Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. Keller was considered to be very social and was generally popular. As early as 1910, the state complied with the wishes of the church council and allowed his burial in St. Boniface's Church.