St Albert the Great

Dominican bishop, Doctor of the Church, patron of scientists · Feast: 15 November

St Albert the Great
Tommaso da Modena, Albert the Great, fresco, 1352, from the series of forty famous Dominicans in the chapter house of the former Dominican convent of San Niccolò, Treviso, Italy. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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Word for the day

“O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” Psalm 104:24

Life

Albert was born around 1200 at Lauingen in Swabia (Germany). While studying at Padua he met the Dominicans and entered the Order of Preachers. He taught in several German houses, then in Paris and in Cologne, where he founded a great house of studies.

Albert studied everything: Scripture, theology and philosophy, but also plants, animals, minerals and the stars. He made the works of Aristotle known to Christian scholars and showed that faith and reason are friends, not enemies. Among his students was a quiet young Dominican, Thomas Aquinas, whose genius Albert recognised and defended.

From 1260 to 1262 he was Bishop of Regensburg, then resigned to return to teaching and preaching. In old age he travelled to Paris to defend the teaching of Thomas after his death. Albert died in Cologne on 15 November 1280. He was canonised and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1931, and in 1941 Pius XII named him patron of those who study the natural sciences.

Lessons

Faith and reason together

Albert studied creation with wonder because it is the work of God's wisdom.

A good teacher lifts others

He rejoiced in the gifts of his student Thomas and helped him grow.

Humility in greatness

He gave up the office of bishop to return to study, prayer and teaching.

Stories

The dumb ox (tradition)

Tradition says that fellow students called the silent Thomas Aquinas the dumb ox, and Albert answered that one day this ox would bellow so loudly that the whole world would hear him.

Homily

1. The works of God

How manifold are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all (Psalm 104:24). Albert studied creation with wonder.

2. Faith and reason are friends

Science and faith both seek truth; the same God is author of both.

3. A teacher who lifts others

Albert recognised and defended the genius of his student Thomas Aquinas.

Dear friends, St Albert the Great studied plants, animals, stones and stars, and he also studied Scripture and theology. He saw no conflict between them. With the psalmist he could say: how manifold are your works, O Lord; in wisdom you have made them all (Psalm 104:24). Every discovery about creation is a discovery about the Creator's wisdom.

Today many young people are told that they must choose between faith and science. Albert, patron of scientists, says no: truth cannot contradict truth, because the same God is the author of nature and of revelation. Let our students study hard and pray hard.

Albert was also a great teacher. When others laughed at the silent Thomas Aquinas, Albert saw his genius and protected it. Parents and teachers, look for the hidden gifts in your children and encourage them. And all of us, let us look at creation today with wonder and thank its Maker. Amen.

Prayer

Lord God, you made St Albert great by his gift of joining human wisdom to divine faith. Help us so to follow his teaching that every advance in knowledge may lead us to know and love you more. Amen.