Writing

St. Albert the Great
by Kayla Gund

In the year 1200, a great man was born in Lauingen in Bavaria.  His name was Albertus Magnus, also known as Albert the Great and Albert of Cologne.

When Albertus was older, he studied at the University of Padua, where he received instruction in Aristotle's writings.  He was also a scholar and philosopher.

He excelled at the science and taught many students Theology, including St. Thomas Aquinas.

After teaching for some time, the Virgin Mary appeared to him and he felt a strong call to the Domincan order and he became a friar even though his parents disagreed.

In his later years, he became a bishop and after his death was made a Doctor of the Church, being only one of 35.

He was beatified in 1622.  Albert the Great was canonized on December 16, 1931 and his body is incorrupt.

A few neat facts about St. Albert the Great:
He was one of the Church's greatest intellects, and one of the greatest natural scientists excelling in biology, chemistry, metaphysics, and mathematics.  He was also very learned in Biblical studies and theology.

I think what made him great is how he used his intellect for God and the Church, not to mention how he protected the Dominican order from secular faculty from the University of Paris in 1254!  But my most favourite part is how he got to see the Virgin Mary!