Albertus Magnus.: His Scientific Views

Abstract

“EVERYTHING there was to be known, he knew.” Thus is the genius of Albert the Great characterised by the Pope in the remarkable Bull “In Thesauris Sapientisæ” declaring the blessed Bishop of Regensburg a saint and a doctor of the Church. In this “Decretal Letter”, dated Dec. 16, 1931, but published on Jan. 14, 1932, Pope Pius XI. points out that Albert the Great (1206–1280) was not only a lover of God, a pastor of souls, and a master of the sacred sciences, but also a pioneer in secular knowledge. He wrote about astronomy, physics, mechanics, chemistry, mineralogy, anthropology, zoology, botany, architecture, and the applied arts; and the modern edition of his writings makes thirty-eight thick quarto volumes (ed. Jammy O.P. repr. Vivès, Paris, 1890 sq.). Indeed, Albert the Great broke the chains that kept natural science in the hands of unbelievers, and vindicated it against the more timid pious persons of his time who were afraid of it for fear of its abuse. For, says the Pope, “no real theologian is afraid of any damage from the operations of nature or of natural reason rightly investigated, for these very things bear upon them the light of the Creator himself”.