St. Albert was born into a noble family in Swabia, Germany in 1206. At the age of 17 he entered the Dominican Order and received his doctorate from the University of Paris in 1245. St. Albert was one of the great teachers of his time and was named regent of the studia generalia at cologne in 1248. St. Thomas Aquinas was a pupil of his. Known as athe “Universal Doctor” some of his great writings are Summa Theologiae and Summa de Creaturis. He was appointed provincial of the Dominicans in Germany and later Bishop of Regensburg in Germany. He assisted at the Council of Lyons in 1274 and defended the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas at the University of Paris against those who accused the great theologian of heresy. He is the patron of those who study the natural sciences.
