“Blessed Albertus.” Albert the Great, the Dominican doctor,
scientist, philosopher, and theologian. Born circa 1206; died at
Cologne, 15 November, 1280. He is called “the Great” and
“Doctor Universalis” on account of his extraordinary genius and
encyclopaedic knowledge, for he surpassed all his contemporaries in every
branch of learning cultivated in his day. He is certainly one of the glories
of the Order of Preachers. Ulrich Endelbert speaks of him as: “Uir in
omni scientia adeo divinus, ut nostri temporis stupor et miraculum congrue
vocari possit” (“De summo bono,” III, iv). Perhaps at the
present day his extraordinary genius is not sufficiently recognized, for he
was certainly one of the most learned men of all time. The latest edition of
his complete works, Paris (Louis Vives), 1890-99, in thity-eight quarto
volumes, was published under the direction of the Abbé Auguste Borgnet,
of the diocese of Reims. “De animalibbus” will be found in Vols.
XI-XII. The feast of Albertus Magnus is celebrated on 15 November. He was
beatified by Gregory XV in 1622, so in this translation I call him
“Blessed” by anticipation.