The Universal Doctor, St. Albert the Great, was a profoundly intelligent man who wrote about every possible field of science. Because of this, he is also the Patron Saint of Scientists. It was his profound ability to utilize the sciences, which he so loved, and blend them with the teachings of the church which granted him his charism as ‘Universal.’
Son of a Count
Born in the family castle at Lauingen, Swabia, Germany, he was oldest child Count of Bollstadt. Entering into the University of Padua, he became a Dominican against the family’s wishes. Becoming a teaching priest for many years, he had a reputation for his brilliance.
Regent of the Studia Generalia
Named as head of the university in Paris in Cologne, he taught the great Thomas Aquinas. They became close friends until St. Thomas Aquinas died in 1274. He had a profound knowledge of the sciences of the time: logic, metaphysics, math, the Bible and Theology. He is credited for creating what is now called The Scholastic Method.
St. Albert the Great Accused of Magic
Because of his great learning, people in his own time often accused him of participating in some kind of magical practice, but he never let this deter him from his vocation.
Personal Theologian to the Pope
St. Albert the Great devoted himself to studying and was responsible for creating a new formation program for the Dominican order. Made a Bishop in 1260, he resigned two years later to teach again.
He died in 1280 from an illness and was Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI in 1931, being considered one of the greatest minds in the medieval church.
St. Albert the Great’s Written Works
A prolific writer on botany, mineralogy, astronomy, physics, chemistry, anthropology, cosmography and many other subjects in the field of the sciences. Summa Theologiae, The Heavens and the Earth, Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Prayers for Each Sunday of the Year, Sacrifice of the Mass
The Twenty First Doctor of the Catholic Church
The Twenty Third Doctor of the Catholic Church
Sources: The 33 Doctors of the Church – By Fr. Christopher Rengers, A Catholic Dictionary – By William Addis, The Writings of the Early Church Fathers (Thirty Eight Volumes): Ante-Nicene, Nicene and Post Nicene – Hendrickson Publishers, Dictionary of Saints – By John J. Delaney, Encyclopedia of Heresies and Heretics – By Chas S. Clifton, A Scholastic Miscellany: Anselm to Ockham – Edited by Eugene R. Fairweather, A Short History of Christian Doctrine: From the First Century to the Present – By Bernhard Lohse
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