St. Albert the Great – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson

* Born: 1193, Lauingen, Germany
* Died: November 15, 1280, Cologne, Germany
* Education: University of Padua

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor take a look at the life and legacy of St. Albert the Great, a Dominican theologian, philosopher, scientist, and mentor to St. Thomas Aquinas. Known for harmonizing faith, reason, and science, Albert saw the study of nature as a way to deepen understanding of God. He was instrumental in reintroducing Aristotle’s philosophy to the West and demonstrated how pagan thought could be reconciled with Christian theology;  the compatibility of reason and faith. His vast contributions to natural sciences, including botany, zoology, and mineralogy, reflected his belief that studying creation reveals the Creator’s glory.
Albert’s life was marked by both intellectual brilliance and profound spiritual devotion, rooted in a mystical encounter with the Blessed Virgin Mary. Renouncing his noble background to join the Dominicans, he embraced poverty and the pursuit of knowledge in service to God. His influence shaped scholasticism, the integration of philosophy into theological studies, and the education of future Church leaders like Aquinas. A trusted advisor to popes and a mediator within the Church, Albert’s legacy is one of wisdom, joy, and the unyielding pursuit of truth, making him a timeless model of harmony between faith and reason.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

* How can you apply St. Albert’s example of harmonizing faith and reason in your own pursuit of knowledge and daily life?
* What aspects of your life might you need to surrender, as Albert did, to follow God’s will more fully?
* How do you cultivate a sense of wonder and gratitude for God’s presence in the natural world around you?
* How does studying philosophy or other intellectual disciplines deepen your understanding and practice of the Catholic faith?
* Who has played a role in mentoring your spiritual growth, and how can you mentor others in their journey of faith?
* In what ways can you strengthen your prayer life to ensure that your intellectual pursuits remain rooted in your relationship with God?
* How can Albert’s approach to integrating science with faith inspire you to share the Gospel in modern contexts?
* How can you reflect the joy and enthusiasm of St. Albert in your efforts to share and live out the truths of the Catholic faith?


From Vatican.va, an excerpt from the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI
From the General Audience on St. Albert the Great
“One of the great masters of medieval theology is St Albert the Great.
The title “Great”, (Magnus), with which he has passed into history indicates the vastness and depth of his teaching, which he combined with holiness of life. However, his contemporaries did not hesitate to attribute to him titles of excellence even then. One of his disciples, Ulric of Strasbourg, called him the “wonder and miracle of our epoch”.
He was born in Germany at the beginning of the 13th century. When he was still young he went to Italy, to Padua, the seat of one of the most famous medieval universities. He devoted himself to the study of the so-called “liberal arts”: grammar, rhetoric, dialectics, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and music, that is, to culture in general, demonstrating that characteristic interest in the natural sciences which was soon to become the favourite field for his ...