From livesofthesaints.com, we have the feast day of St. Albert the Great...
Saint Albert (livesofthesaints.com)
Saint Albert the Great was a Catholic bishop, theologian, and scientist who lived in the 13th century. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest minds of the Middle Ages and is honored as a patron saint of scientists and natural philosophers. His feast day is celebrated on November 15th.
Saint Albert was born in Germany in 1206, and he studied at the University of Padua, where he developed a passion for science, philosophy, and theology. He would later go on to become a professor of theology at the University of Paris and a bishop in Germany.
Saint Albert was a true Renaissance man, excelling in many different fields of study. He is considered the patron saint of scientists and natural philosophers, because of his work in the natural sciences, particularly in the field of botany and zoology. He was also a respected theologian, philosopher, and teacher, who wrote numerous works on a wide variety of topics.
Saint Albert’s contributions to science and theology were truly groundbreaking for his time, and his work continues to be studied and respected to this day. He is best known for his book “The Book of Minerals”, which was a comprehensive treatise on mineralogy and metallurgy, and his “Summa Theologica” which was a summary of all of the theological and philosophical knowledge of the time.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Saint Albert’s life was his ability to reconcile faith and reason, showing that science and religion are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary. He believed that the study of nature was a way of understanding God’s creation, and that the natural world was a reflection of the divine.
Saint Albert’s legacy lives on today, as his work continues to inspire scientists, natural philosophers, and theologians. His feast day, November 15th, is an opportunity to remember and honor his life and contributions, and to reflect on the ways we can follow his example in our own lives.
PRAYER TO SAINT ALBERT
Dear Scientist and Doctor of the Church,
natural science always led you to the higher science of God.
Though you had an encyclopedia knowledge,
it never made you proud,
for you regarded it as a gift of God.
Inspire scientists to use their gifts well
in studying the wonders of creation,
thus bettering the lot of the human race,
and rendering greater glory to God.
Amen
End of tribute to St. Albert...
Just a quick word here... It is falsely assumed that the Catholic Church had been vehemently opposed to scientific research so as to keep the minds of men darkened in ignorance.
Nothing could be further from the truth, as the Church had always supported scientific research, and in fact, was the only entity to do so, up to and including the Galileo "controversy"...
For a good take on Galileo, please go to CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Galileo Galilei (newadvent.org)
One last thing, for those anti-Catholic Church folks, know that Galileo was not ever tortured or thrown in prison!
The following is from Galileo's Protestant biographer:
"Under the sentence of imprisonment Galileo remained till his death in 1642. It is, however, untrue to speak of him as in any proper sense a "prisoner". As his Protestant biographer, von Gebler, tells us, "One glance at the truest historical source for the famous trial, would convince anyone that Galileo spent altogether twenty-two days in the buildings of the Holy Office (i.e. the Inquisition), and even then not in a prison cell with barred windows, but in the handsome and commodious apartment of an official of the Inquisition." For the rest, he was allowed to use as his places of confinement the houses of friends, always comfortable and usually luxurious. It is wholly untrue that he was — as is constantly stated — either tortured or blinded by his persecutors — though in 1637, five years before his death, he became totally blind — or that he was refused burial in consecrated ground. On the contrary, although the pope (Urban VIII) did not allow a monument to be erected over his tomb, he sent his special blessing to the dying man, who was interred not only in consecrated ground, but within the church of Santa Croce at Florence."
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Pray for strength and honor!
Viva Cristo Rey! Bl. Fr. Miguel Pro, Fr. Emil Kapaun and Fr. Vincent Capodanno, pray for us...
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle...
Gene DeLalla
