Univ.-Prof. Dr. Johannes Kosnetter

After graduating from grammar school in Hollabrunn, Johannes Kosnetter began studying theology in Vienna in 1921. In 1921, he joined the student fraternity Aargau. After his ordination to the priesthood in 1925, he initially worked as a cooperator before continuing his studies, which he completed in 1930 with a doctorate in theology. In 1930/31 he worked as a religion teacher at the girls' secondary school in Vienna II. In preparation for his academic career, he studied exegesis and oriental languages (lic. rer. bibl.) at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome from 1931-1934 and worked as a chaplain at the Collegio Teutonico di Santa Maria dell'Anima. After a period of study in Berlin in the summer semester of 1934, he again taught religious education at the girls' grammar school in Vienna XVIII from 1934 to 1936. He then habilitated at the Faculty of Theology at the University of Vienna and was appointed associate university professor of New Testament in 1937 as a student and successor to Theodor Innitzer (Archbishop of Vienna 1932-1955).

From July 1938, it was forbidden to sell food to Jews in Austria. Despite this, for years Johannes Kosnetter supplied a Jewish secondary school professor who had been dismissed from her job with food and other everyday necessities, as she was no longer able to leave her apartment to avoid being arrested and deported. He took this risk, knowing full well that it was dangerous and that arrest and severe punishment would follow if he was exposed and denounced.