The John Carroll faculty is meeting today to discuss a new and improved system for professional evaluation. Today’s saint, Albert the Great (Albertus Magnus in Latin), seems to be the perfect fit for the day as he was known as the “teacher of everything there is to know.”
Born in 1206 in the town of Lauingen (in Bavaria, Germany) along the shores of the Danube River, Saint Albert was a great scholar, having studied in both Padua and Paris before entering the Order of Preachers (the Dominicans). He was known as an outstanding teacher, who while lecturing at the University of Paris was called to set up a house of studies in Cologne for young Dominicans, including Thomas Aquinas who became his greatest pupil.
Albert was later ordained Bishop of Ratisbon (now known as Regensburg, Bavaria). He did great things that great scholars do: worked for peace among peoples, and wrote brilliantly on both sacred and secular subjects. His writings uphold his belief in the “peaceful coexistence” of science and religion.
Besides Theology, Albert was a natural scientist, with known expertise in mathematics, biology, chemistry, astronomy, physics, and the philosophical study of metaphysics. His writings are known for their precise scientific knowledge; hence he is patron saint of scientists, as well as philosophers and students.
He died in 1280 at Cologne, having been sought after for advice for years by popes, bishops, and kings. Saint Albert was canonized and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI in 1931.
From “The One Year Book of Saints” by Rev. Clifford Stevens (Our Sunday Visitor):
“St. Albert the Great was convinced that all creation spoke of God and that the tiniest piece of scientific knowledge told us something about Him. Besides the Bible, God has given us the book of creation revealing something of His wisdom and power. In creation, Albert saw the hand of God.”
May those of us in Catholic Education look to this scholarly saint for inspiration:
Albert the Great, whose faith sought understanding of all things and whose reason led to knowledge of God, pray for us!
Collect for the Feast of Saint Albert the Great:
O God, who made the Bishop Saint Albert great by his joining of human wisdom to divine faith,
grant, we pray, that we may so adhere to the truths he taught,
that through progress in learning
we may come to a deeper knowledge and love of you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.