Saint Albert the Great was known mostly for being the teacher of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Saint Albert is sometimes also known as Albertus Magnus, and is prayed to by many students and scientists because he is their patron saint.
Albert is known mostly for his work as a theologian and philosopher, but in his times most people did not recognize his brilliance so he was sometimes over-looked. He was a great educator and many agree that he was indeed a genius.
Saint Albert’s genius was widespread as well, he not only published reports in theology but in numerous different areas of science. His works include theories in the fields of mathematics, physics, philosophy, zoology, metaphysics, chemistry, botany, and biology.
One would think that after a life full of such intelligence and learning that Albert would not have had time to accomplish much else. However, Saint Albert devoted much time to inform people of God, and was even a Bishop in Regensburg for a while. He also served as special consultant to the Pope, and helped many other high postioned religious leaders as well.
The fact that Albert held such high postions in the Church and was so widely respected really shows that the Church does believe that science is worthwhile and would like it to go hand in hand with the Church.
Saint Albert’s contributions to the world do not end there though, he also was a respected geologist. He had theories that there must be more land to the west of Britain. His theory eventually can be linked to America and its discovery at later dates.
As said previously, Albert is known as the one who educated Saint Thomas Aquinas, but his legacy as an educator was not only with Saint Thomas. He also taught Peter of Tarentasia, who would eventually be known on a more widespread basis as Pope Innocent V. Albert had such a large influence on the Catholic Church as a whole in and around the year 1200.
Saint Albert was extended an invitation to the Council of Lyons by Pope Gregory X, and intended to be in attendence until he got word of Saint Thomas Aquinas’s death. Saint Thomas’s death deeply saddened Albertand he decided not to go anymore.
Saint Albert died in the year 1280, and was finally made a saint by Pope Pius XI in 1931.
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Tags: patron saint, Saint Albert the Great, Scientist, St. Albert, St. Thomas Aquinas, Teacher