+ Albert the Great was born in 1200 in Swabia, near Ulm, Germany, the son of a military
nobleman. He joined the Dominicans while studying at the University of Padua in
1223 and taught theology at Cologne Germany, and Paris France. He became an
influential teacher, preacher and administrator. Against his will he was named
bishop of Regensburg in 1260; and because of his inability to deal with the
serious problems in the diocese, he resigned the see in 1262 to devote his time
and energy once again to teaching and writing in Cologne. He partook of the
Council of Lyons despite the shock of the announcement of the death of St.
Thomas Aquinas on his own way to the council. Albert introduced Greek and
Arabic science and philosophy to medieval Europe, and was known for his wide
interest in what became known later as the natural sciences – botany, biology
and the like.
He
wrote and illustrated guides to his observations, and was
considered on a par with Aristotle as an authority on these matters. Albert’s
health began to fail him in 1278 as he lapsed into a form of dementia today
called Alzheimer’s disease. He died on November 15, 1280 and was buried in the
Dominican church in Cologne. He was beatified in 1622 and canonized and declared
a Doctor of the Church and patron saint of students of the natural sciences in
1931.
As
the Book of Sirach tells us in the first reading today, it is he who fears the Lord – who understands
his dependent relationship with the almighty, loving, Creator, Father – who is given the gift of deep insight
into the realities of both heaven and earth. Albert the Great must have then
had a deep and real sense of fear of his Lord and God to reach the heights of
understanding and knowledge that he did.
The
gospel passage tells us that as we await the end, saints and
sinners must coexist side by side, but as we try the best we can to be saints
and influence sinners to turn away from sin, we trust God that, fearing him,
and using the gifts he gives us will help the cause – as St. Albert the Great
used his!
Lord,
teach me your statutes.
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