Saint Thomas Aquinas, ora pro nobis! Albertus Magnus, ora pro nobis!

Albertus Magnus

Doctor Universalis

"Almighty God,

you combined human wisdom and divine faith

to render great your bishop, Saint Albert.

May we remain faithful to his teachings,

so that, through the progress of human science

we may come to a deeper knowledge and love of you.

(We make our prayer) through our Lord".

 

– Collect for the feast of St Albert the Great, 15 November.

 

St Albert left behind writings on sacred doctrine and other sciences, and is worthily called the ‘Great’ and the ‘Universal’ doctor. He died on 15 November, 1280, in Cologne, and was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pius II in 1459. He was canonised by Pius XI on 16 December 1931 and Pius XII later declared him the patron saint of those involved in the natural sciences.

 

This painting of St Albert teaching is in the old chapel of the Albertinum in Fribourg, Switzerland.

"In 1248 he [St Albert] was charged with opening a theological studium at Cologne, one of the most important regional capitals of Germany, where he lived at different times and which became his adopted city. He brought with him from Paris an exceptional student, Thomas Aquinas. The sole merit of having been St Thomas' teacher would suffice to elicit profound admiration for St Albert. A relationship of mutual esteem and friendship developed between these two great theologians, human attitudes that were very helpful in the development of this branch of knowledge"

 

– Pope Benedict XVI. 

The rest of his reflection can be read here.

 

This painting of St Albert guiding St Thomas in study is in the Dominican priory in Toulouse.

Saint Thomas Aquinas

There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.

The things that we love tell us what we are.

To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.

Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine.

Faith has to do with things that are not seen and hope with things that are not at hand.

Beware of the person of one book.

Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate.

Love takes up where knowledge leaves off.

Friendship is the source of the greatest pleasures, and without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious.

Law: an ordinance of reason for the common good, made by him who has care of the community.

Signadou, Fanjeaux, France