St Albert the Great was the Bishop of Regensburg, Dominican friar, philosopher, and scientist.
He was born in 1200 AD in Lauingen, Bavaria, Germany.
He died on November 15 1280 in Cologne, Germany.
We celebrate his feast day on November 15 every year in the Catholic Church.
St Albert the Great is the Patron Saint of
- Scientists
- Those who cultivate the natural sciences
- Philosophers
- Medical technicians
| St Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor Biography | |
|---|---|
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| Date of Birth | 1200 AD |
| Place of Birth | Lauingen, Bavaria, Germany |
| Profession | Bishop of Regensburg, Dominican friar, philosopher, and a scientist |
| Place of Work | Cologne, Germany |
| Date of Death | November 15 1280 |
| Place of Death | Cologne, Germany |
| Feast Day | November 15 |
| Beatification | By Pope Gregory XV in 1622 in Rome, Papal States |
| Canonization | By Pope Pius XI in 1931 in Vatican City |
| Patron Saint of |
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Saint Albert the Great Life History
St Albert the Great was the son of a German military officer. He got a decent education at the University of Padua in Italy and learned a lot about the writings of Aristotle.
In 1223, he joined the Dominican Order after he was motivated by Blessed Jordan of Saxony who was going around the Universities in Europe, and netting the brilliant minds to the Dominican Order. Thereafter, he studied theology.
He was selected to teach at a Dominican House in Cologne, Germany, and thereafter, in several other institutions in Freiburg, Regensburg, Hildesheim, and Strasbourg.
St Albert the Great mastered theology and later wrote his Summa de bono after consultations with Philip the Chancellor, a French theologian. He became a full-time professor at the University of Paris and taught theology.
While in Paris, he was tasked with opening a house in Cologne. He selected several brilliant minds to assist him with that noble task. One of them was St Thomas Aquinas.
St Albert the Great’s enthusiasm in the works of Aristotle led him to become a renowned debater in academic circles.
He commented on the errors he identified in the writings of Averroes, an Islamic philosopher. He also came to the defense of the Dominicans when they came under attack by detractors at the University of Paris.
He became the provincial of the Dominican Order in 1254 and in 1259, together with Thomas Aquinas and others, he took part in the General Chapter of the Dominicans where they introduced the study of philosophy for those who were not avid to study theology.
St Albert the Great was made the bishop of Regensburg in 1260 by Pope Alexander IV but after 3 years, he resigned from that position.
The pope tasked him with preaching in German-speaking countries and becoming a mediator in war-torn countries and other parties in conflict.
St Albert the Great is famed in Cologne as the founder of one of Germany’s oldest universities and also for helping to resolve a conflict between the archbishop of Cologne and the citizens.
He also defended the works of his former student, St Thomas Aquinas, which at that time attracted controversy and criticism.
St Albert the Great wore many hats in his lifetime. He was;
- Scientist
- Philosopher
- Astrologer
- Theologian
- Spiritual writer
- Ecumenist
- Diplomat
He revolutionized the curriculum of studies for the Dominicans, especially by introducing the study of Aristotle’s philosophy.
Death
In 1278, St Albert the Great’s health suffered a collapse, and eventually, on November 15 1280, he died in the Dominican convent in Cologne, Germany.
Relics
St Albert the Great’s body and remains are preserved in the Dominican St. Andreas Church in Cologne, Germany.
Beatification
St Albert the Great was beatified by Pope Gregory XV in 1622 in Rome, Papal States
Canonization
St Albert the Great was canonized by Pope Pius XI on December 16 1931 in Vatican City and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church.
St Albert the Great Feast Day
We celebrate his feast day on November 15 every year in the Catholic Church.
Institutions Named After St Albert the Great
- The Statue of St Albert the Great at the central square at the campus of the University of Cologne
- The Saint Albert the Great Science Academy in San Carlos City, Pangasinan in the Philippines
- The Colegio Cientifico y Artistico de San Alberto, Hopelawn, New Jersey, United States
- The Albertus-Magnus-Gymnasium is found in Rottweil, Germany
- The Albertus Magnus International Institute in Managua, Nicaragua
- The Albertus Magnus Building at the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines
- San Alberto Magno Academy in Tubao, La Union in the Philippines
- Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
- Albertus Magnus student’s fraternity in Groningen, Netherlands
- Albertus Magnus Science Hall at Thomas Aquinas College, in Santa Paula, California, United States
- Albertus Magnus Lyceum in River Forest, Illinois, United States
- Albertus Magnus High School in Bardonia, New York, United States
- Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Other Saints Whose Feast Days are in November
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