Wenzeslaus
Linck (Link)

Dr. theol., theologian, Augustinian Hermit, * January 8, 1483, Colditz/Saxony – † March 12, 1547, Nuremberg, Grave No. 870 in the Johannisfriedhof Cemetery, epitaph still in place. Son of Hans, councilor in Colditz. ∞ April 15, 1523, Margarethe († 1560), daughter of the Altenburg jurist Suicer, two sons, six daughters, of whom one son, Salomon, and two daughters survived. Probably attended the Gymnasium in Magdeburg. Studied in Leipzig. 1503, studied in Wittenberg and entered the Order of Augustinian Hermits. 1509, university lecturer. 1511, licentiate and doctorate in bibliography. 1512, prior of the OESA monastery in Wittenberg, with Martin Luther as subprior. From 1515 he was prior and from 1516 preacher at an Augustinian monastery in Munich. He accompanied the provincial of the order, Johann von Staupitz. From 1517 to 1519 he was prior and preacher at the Augustinian monastery in Nuremberg. Here he met the humanists around Willibald Pirkheimer, the spiritual center of the Sodalitas Staupitziana (Staupitz Society). In 1520 he succeeded J. von Staupitz as vicar general of the German OESA congregation. In 1520/21 he undertook a visitation tour to southern and western Germany and the Netherlands. In 1522 he led the OESA chapter in Wittenberg. In 1523 he resigned his vicariate general in response to Luther's writings critical of monasteries. From 1523 to 1525 he was a Protestant preacher in Altenburg and introduced the Reformation. In 1525 he returned to Nuremberg, first as preacher at St. Catherine's, then as preacher at Heilig Geist until his death. His annual salary was 200 florins. He lived with his family in Nonnengäßlein. Linck wrote numerous theological works. In 1539, he purchased a house in Zisselgasse (Albrecht-Dürer-Straße 13) for 300 florins. He sold it again in 1540 for 400 florins, and in return, he acquired a house in Neue Gasse. Panzer recorded his portrait. Works: including the hymn "Herzlich lieb hab ich Dich o Herr..." (I love you very much, Lord...); Lincke's works edited by W. Reindell, Vol. 1 (up to 1525), Marburg 1894. For a list of his writings, see Jürgen Lorz: Bibliographia Linckiana, Bibliography of the Printed Writings of Dr. Linck, Nieuwkoop, 1977. References: ADB; Trechsel, 1735; Dipt. Heilig Geist 1759, pp. 33f.; Will, GL II, pp. 445-453 and VI, pp. 305-307; A. Engelhard, in: MVGN 33, 1933; Zahn, DI-N No. 608; Simon, Pfb. No. 759; Jürgen Lorz: The Reformation Work of Dr. Wenzeslaus Linck in Altenburg and Nuremberg, Nürnberger Werkstücke 25, 1978; Ders., in: Fränkische Lebensbilder 14, 1991; Stadtlexikon 2000; Kohn, NHb Sebald.