LIFE OF ST. ALBERT THE GREAT (1206-80)

Feast Day – November 15  

Eldest son of the Count of Bollstadt, Albert was born in the family castle on the Danube in Swabia, Germany.  At the age of 17, he turned his back on wealth and a life of nobility to join the Dominicans, despite family opposition.

While leading a very active life as teacher and administrator, as bishop of Ratisbon he tramped the roads of Europe on long journeys and was nicknamed “the bishop with the boots.”  Yet his printed works, which were mostly completed during this period, fill 38 volumes and cover every field of learning.  He was considered an authority on physics, geography (one of his treatises proved the earth to be round), astronomy, mineralogy, zoology, chemistry and biology.  Legends grew up that he had and used magical powers.  He wrote as well on logic, metaphysics, mathematics, the Bible and theology.  He pioneered the Scholastic method – a philosophical system that emphasized the use of reason in exploring questions of philosophy and theology – which was later perfected by his student and friend Thomas Aquinas.  St. Albert’s own contemporaries dubbed him “the Great,” recognizing him as “no less godlike in all knowledge,” the “wonder and miracle” of their age.

St. Albert was lecturing at Paris in 1278 when his memory suddenly failed.  A gradual mental deterioration followed, ending with his death two years later.

Albert was canonized and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI in 1931.  Pius XII declared St. Albert to be the patron of scientists, pointing out in his Apostolic letter that, because of the Saint’s reputation for learning, there were already a large number of Catholic universities and colleges world-wide which were dedicated to him.

As a youth, he once said that our Blessed Lady appeared to him, promising to obtain for him extraordinary intellectual graces if he would persevere, but that these graces would be withdrawn in his old age.  This story serves to underscore the key to St. Albert’s sanctity.  He knew, in short, that of himself he was nothing; that every talent he owned, he received from God; that the only reason for his genius was the honor and glory of God; that, used rightly his brilliance could be his own personal ladder to holiness. 

Thus it is with all human beings.  Intellectual brilliance is, after all, a gratuitous gift from God to a clod of clay. Granted for God’s glory, it can be used with such perfection that it can make a man a saint.  Abused for man’s own ambition, it can lead to eternal perdition. (Adapted from 101 Saints by Rev. David Liptak, Dictionary of Saints by John Delaney and Popular Patron Saints by Sharkey)