Nov. 15th - St. Albert the Great

 

Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Albert the Great. He was born in 1206 in Germany. His father was a military lord in the army of Emperor Frederick II.

Albert joined the Dominican Order, the Order of Preachers and studied and taught philosophy in Cologne and Paris, where he became one of the most famous philosophers of his day. He was known as the "teacher of everything there is to know," and was a scientist long before the age of science. His works were extremely extensive. Besides biblical and theological works and sermons, he also had treatises on logic, metaphysics, ethics and science. His interests included physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, physiology, geography, geology, and botany.

St. Albert always knew that all of his wisdom and knowledge came from God, and out of humility, he always thanked God for these special gifts.

After several teaching assignments in his order, he came in 1241 to the University of Paris, where he lectured in theology. There he gathered around him a small band of young theologians, the chief of whom was St. Thomas Aquinas his greatest pupil.

In 1260, he was appointed bishop of Regensburg. In his latter years, he resided in Cologne, took part in the Council of Lyons in 1274, and in his old age traveled to Paris to defend the teaching of his student Thomas Aquinas.

It was in Cologne that his reputation as a scientist grew. He carried on experiments in chemistry and physics in his makeshift laboratory and built up a collection of plants, insects, and chemical compounds that gave substance to his reputation. He was friend and adviser to popes, bishops, kings, and statesmen and made his own unique contribution to the learning of his age.

He died November 15, 1280 and is buried in St. Andrea's Church in that city. He was canonized and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1931 by Pope Pius XI. His writings are remarkable for their exact scientific knowledge, and for that reason he has been made the patron saint of scientists.