约翰·马丁·施莱尔

生平

他生于巴登上劳达。根据他当时的报告，建立沃拉普克语的构思来自于与堂区人士的对话。因为美国邮局不能辨认那位人士的笔迹，所以不能利用书信与他移民到美国的儿子联络。

1856年他领受铎品成为司铎。1867年到1875年他担任邻近梅斯基希克伦巴赫（Krumbach）的主任司铎。最后在文化斗争（Kulturkampf）中，因为他的传道与社会主义抵触而被判入监牢4个月。

1875年到1885年，他担任了康斯坦茨圣伯多禄与圣保禄堂区的主任司铎。后来他写道那是他人生中最快乐的七个年头。

当时他担任了杂志Sionsharfe的编辑，主要投身于天主教诗词。1879年5月他在这份杂志发表沃拉普克语。后来到了1880年更出版完整的书本。沃拉普克语迅速扩散，并且整个欧洲都出现了相关的的学会。1885年后，施莱尔因病而退休，但仍然持续沃拉普克语的运动直至该语言崩解了数年。

1894年，他被天主教教宗良十三世任命为宗座教长。1912年在康斯坦茨逝世并葬于当地主公墓。

西德被恐怖分子绑架并杀害的汉斯·马丁·施莱尔是其兄弟的曾孙。

Johann Martin Schleyer (German pronunciation: [ˈjoːhan ˈmaʁtiːn ˈʃlaɪɐ]; 18 July 1831 – 16 August 1912) was a German Catholic priest who invented the constructed language Volapük. His official name was "Martin Schleyer"; he added the name "Johann" (in honor of his godfather) unofficially.

Life and work

Schleyer was born in Oberlauda (Baden). According to his own report, the idea of an international language arose out of a conversation he had with one of his parishioners, a semi-literate German peasant whose son had emigrated to America and could no longer be reached by mail because the United States Postal Service could not read the father's handwriting.

He was ordained in 1856. From 1867 to 1875, Schleyer served as pastor at Krumbach near Meßkirch. At the end of this time he was jailed for four months for preaching against socialism during the Kulturkampf.

From 1875 to 1885 he was pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul parish in Litzelstetten. He later wrote that the first seven years in Litzelstetten were among the happiest of his life.

At this time he was editor of the magazine Sionsharfe, devoted mainly to Catholic poetry. In May 1879 he published an article on Volapük in this magazine. This sketch was followed by a full-length book in 1880. The language spread widely and new clubs sprung up all over Europe. After 1885 Schleyer had to retire from his pastoral duties due to ill health, though he was still involved in the Volapük movement until it fell apart a few years later.

In 1894 Pope Leo XIII made him a papal prelate.

Schleyer died in Konstanz in 1912.

Remembrance

A campaign to beatify him was started in June 2001, based in his home parish of Litzelstetten. The high school Martin-Schleyer-Gymnasium Lauda-Königshofen in Lauda is named for him.