From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
November 21st - St. Albert of Louvain
(also known as Albert of Brabant)
Born at Mont C=C3=A9sar, Louvain, in 1166; died November 24, 1192; cultus confirmed 1613. Albert, son of Duke Godfrey III of Brabant and his
wife Margaret of Limburg, was raised for a life in the Church in a
castle on what is now called Mont-C=C3=A9sar. At age 12 he was made a canon
of Li=C3=A8ge, but renounced his benefice when he came of age. At age 21, Albert attached himself as a knight to the entourage of his enemy
Count Baldwin V of Brabant. When the papal legate preached the crusade
in Li=C3=A8ge a few months later, Albert took up the cross, and at the same time took up his canonry again. He never participated in the crusade,
instead the subdeacon was quickly promoted to archdeacon, then
provost.
In 1191 (age 25), Albert was overwhelmingly chosen bishop of Li=C3=A8ge by
the chapter over another archdeacon, Albert of Rethel, who was cousin
to Baldwin and the uncle of Empress Constance. His election was
opposed by Emperor Henry VI who favored his wife's uncle. When the
cause was heard at Worms, the emperor gave the see to Lothaire,
provost of Bonn, whom he had just made imperial chancellor in return
for 3,000 marks.
In order to appeal to Rome, Saint Albert had to travel circuitously
and covertly under the guise of a servant so as to avoid interception
by the emperor's men. Following Pope Celestine III's confirmation of
the election, Albert returned to Li=C3=A8ge, but found Lothaire already intruded in the see and that Archbishop Bruno of Cologne was unwilling
to incur the wrath of the emperor by consecrating Albert. Meanwhile
the pope had made arrangements for Archbishop William of Rheims to
ordain and consecrate Albert. This was accomplished at Rheims on
September 29, 1192.
When war appeared immanent between the emperor and Albert's uncle over
his consecration, the saint opted to remain in exile rather than
precipitate a war. Still the emperor was not satisfied. He forced the submission of Albert's clerical supporters before leaving Li=C3=A8ge for Maestricht to hatch another plot against the lawful bishop. Just 10
weeks after his consecration, Saint Albert was murdered by three
German knights as he was making a visit to the abbey of Saint-Remi
outside the walls of Rheims. He was buried with honor in the cathedral (Benedictines, Walsh).
In art Saint Albert is depicted as a bishop with a knife in his head
or with three swords on the ground before him. (He is easily confused
with Thomas a Becket (of Canterbury), whose martyrdom was similar.)
Sometimes he is shown as an enthroned cardinal holding a palm, three
swords before him, or as a cardinal protecting the Archduke Albert
(Roeder).
Saint Quote:
Mary was raised to the dignity of Mother of God rather for sinners
than for the just, since Jesus Christ declares that he came to call
not the just, but sinners.
--St. Anselm
<><><><>
"Hail, holy throne of God, divine sanctuary, house of glory, jewel
most fair, chosen treasure house, and mercy seat for the whole world,
heaven showing forth the glory of God. Purest Virgin, worthy of all
praise, sanctuary dedicated to God and raised above all human
condition, virgin soil, unplowed field, flourishing vine, fountain
pouring out waters, virgin bearing a child, mother without knowing
man, hidden treasure of innocence, ornament of sanctity, by your most acceptable prayers, strong with the authority of motherhood, to our
Lord and God, Creator of all, your Son who was born of you without a
father, steer the ship of the Church and bring it to a quiet harbor"
-- (adapted from a homily by St. Germanus on the Presentation of the
Mother of God).
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)