(Optional) Memorial
of Saint Albert the Great, bishop
(Wisdom 13:1-9;
Luke 17:26-37)
He criticized his teacher (of sorts), Aristotle, and
bowed to his pupil, Aquinas. He resigned
from his position of Master of the Dominican Order and also from the bishopric of
Regensburg. He was at one time a master
scientist, philosopher, and theologian. St.
Albert the Great deserves recognition in an age that thrives on scientific insight.
It is said that St. Albert is called “the Great” because
he knew so much. It could be said as
well that he was great because he never allowed his learning to trivialize his
quest for God. Albert knew how to
distinguish the Creator from creation as the first reading from the Book of
Wisdom admonishes today. He knew further
how to find God among the many counterfeits that existed in the Middle Ages as
well as today.
Albert the Great offers to us a model of humility, of dedication
to truth, and of loyalty to friends. In an
age when humility is eschewed, truth is relativized, and loyalty is often
neglected Albert stands tall as a patron to be emulated.
