• November 21st - St. Albert of Louvain

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Wed Nov 20 08:28:44 2019
    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)