Albertus Magnus

Saint Albertus Magnus

Also known as
• Albert the Great
Albert of Cologne
• Doctor Expertus
• Doctor Universalis

Memorial
• 15 November

Profile
Our saint today was the brilliant son of a nobleman; Albert however, became a Dominican Priest. He was the teacher and spiritual guide to St. Thomas Aquinas, who is also brilliant but corpulent. Through his life, Al was an influential teacher, preacher, and administrator. He was among the first to comment on all of the writings of Aristotle, thereby making them accessible to the more common folk.

In the year 1260 Pope Alexander VI made him bishop. As bishop he introduced Greek and Arabic science and philosophy to medieval Europe. His study of these natural sciences removed the taint of suspicion about them that was widespread among laypeople at the time. Only Nixon could go to China. He served as bishop for only 3 years, resigning in order to continue his study, and because he felt himself unworthy.

His passion, other than theology, was for the natural sciences… botany, biology, etc. He wrote and illustrated guides to his observations, and was considered on a par with Aristotle as an authority on these matters. He is credited with the discovery of the element Arsenic. Some later writings say he dabbled in alchemy. According to legend, Albertus Magnus is said to have discovered the philosopher's stone and passed it to his pupil Thomas Aquinas, shortly before his death. Since Thomas died before Albert, I don’t think this is possible. In any case we Harry Potter fans know for a fact the Philosophers Stone was discovered by Nicholas Flamel, Dumbledore’s friend.

Dante had a real thing for Albertus, he placed him in the Heaven of the Sun in his Divine Comedy, along with his pupil Thomas Aquinas, both as great lovers of wisdom. According to Mary Shelly, Albertus Magnus was also a big influence on Victor Frankenstein M.D. He was named a Doctor of the Church in 1931, Albert, not Frankenstein. College buildings, Schools and Universities are named for him all over the place.

In a tragedy of gargantuan proportions, some writings describe his later years in a way that suggest he suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. It must have been a real cross to bear for this brilliant man to realize his mind was going.

Born
• 1206 Swabia

Died
• 15 November 1280 Prussia

Patronage
Alzheimer’s disease
• medical technicians
• natural sciences
• philosophers
• schoolchildren
• scientists
• students
• theology students

Representation
• man dressed as a Dominican bishop lecturing from a pulpit
• man arguing with Saint Thomas Aquinas