FABER (or VRE), JOHANN (1478-1541), German theologian, styled from the title of one of his works "Malleus Haereticorum," son of one Heigerlin, a smith (faber), was barn at Leutkirch, Suabia, in 1478. He studied theology and canon law at Tubingen and at Freiburg im Breisgau, and became vicar of Lindau and Leutkirch and shortly afterwards canon of Basel. In 1518 Hugo von Landenberg, bishop of Constance, made him one of his vicars-general, and Leo X. appointed him papal proto notary. He was an advocate of reforms, in sympathy with Eras mus, and corresponded (1519-20) with Zwingli. While he de fended Luther against Eck, he was as little inclined to adopt the position of Luther as of Carlstadt. His journey to Rome in the autumn of 1521 had the result of estranging him from the views of the Protestant leaders. He published Opus adversus nova quaedam dogmata Lutheri (1522), appeared as a disputant against Zwingli at Zurich (1523), and then put forth his Malleus in haeresin Lutheranam (1524). In 1526 he became court preacher to the emperor Ferdinand, and in 15 2 7-28 was sent by him as envoy to Spain and England. He approved the death by burning of Balthasar Hubmeier, the Baptist, at Vienna on March io, 1528. In 1531 he was consecrated bishop of Vienna, and combined with this (till 1538) the administration of the diocese of Neustadt. He died at Vienna on May 21, 1541. His works were collected in three volumes, and 1J41.
See C. E. Kettner, Diss. de J. Fabri Vita Scriptisque Wagenmann and Egli in Herzog-Hauck's Realencyklopadie (1898).