We're back for the first full week of Lent Madness 2021. That's five straight days of heart-stopping saintly thrills. Although the first three matchups haven't been particularly close (Camillus de Lellis, Constantine, and Egeria all won handily), a tight race always lurks just around the bracket corner.
Today, it's the Battle of the Greats as Albert the Great squares off against Leo the Great to determine, once and for all, just who is the greatest? (with all due respect to Muhammad Ali, of course).
Over the weekend, in the only Saturday matchup of the season, Egeria saw her way past Tarcisius 61% to 39%. Don't forget you can click on the Bracket Tab to check past results and access the Matchup Calendar to see the upcoming pairings. Now go vote!
Albert the Great
During the Middle Ages, there were few subject areas that Albert didn’t study, contribute to, or lead the way in.
Albert the Great, also known as Albertus Magnus and Albert of Cologne, was a scientist, teacher, theologian, philosopher, prolific writer, physician, German Dominican friar, bishop, and diplomat.
Albert was born around the year 1193, somewhere in Bavaria to a wealthy German family. Albert was educated primarily at the University of Padua in northern Italy, where he began a lifelong interest in the writings of the great Greek philosopher Aristotle. Around this time, Albert reportedly was visited by the Virgin Mary, which convinced him to enter the Dominican Order.
He became a master of theology in 1245 and began to teach at the University of Paris, where the highly influential Thomas Aquinas was one of his students. Their relationship grew from teacher/student to friend and colleague. In 1254, Albert was elected prior for the Dominican Order German-speaking province, which kept him busy traveling and attending to the needs of the people. Six years later, he was named bishop of Regensburg, Bavaria, but resigned after three years. Again, his travels took him far, always on foot and never on horseback, thereby earning him the name “Boots the Bishop.”
His lasting influence is far-reaching and ubiquitous. His contributions can be found in all the major scientific fields, from alchemy to zoology. Among his innumerable contributions to the world of knowledge, he is credited as discovering arsenic. Also of significance are his writings about Aristotle.
Albert died November 15, 1280, in Cologne, Germany. Since November 15, 1954, his relics have been located in a Roman sarcophagus in the crypt of the Dominican St. Andreas Church in Cologne. He was named a saint and a doctor of the church on December 15, 1931—one of only 36 named doctors. On December 16, 1941, Pope Pius XII anointed Albert as the patron saint of the natural sciences.
He is the patron saint of medical technicians, natural sciences, philosophers, scientists, and Cincinnati, Ohio—home to Forward Movement!
Collect for Albert the Great
O God, by your Holy Spirit you give to some the word of wisdom, to others the word of knowledge, and to others the word of faith: We praise your Name for the gifts of grace manifested in your servant Albert, and we pray that your Church may never be destitute of such gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Leo the Great
The fifth century was a time of turmoil in the Western Roman Empire. After the death of Theodosius in 395, the empire divided into Eastern and Western portions—and the Eastern Empire (centered in Constantinople) was more prosperous and secure than the Western Empire (centered in Rome).
It was within the unsettled west that Leo the Great served the church. The Western Empire was constantly under threat of invasion from the east and north. Around 440, Leo was sent to Gaul as a peacemaker between two generals whose bickering endangered Gaul’s safety; while he was there, he received word that he had been elected bishop of Rome.
Service as Pope in the middle of the fifth century didn’t carry the prestige it does today. Leo worked to assert the authority of the Roman pontiff as the successor of Peter: he asserted a strong hand in the furthest reaches of the Western Empire over recalcitrant bishops, and he worked energetically in Gaul, Spain, and Africa to combat the anathematized teachings of Manicheans, Pricillians, and Pelagians.
Yet while Leo built up the power of the Roman See, his gifts as a peacemaker left the most profound impression on Christianity as a whole. Debate had continued for centuries across the church as to the nature of Jesus Christ. Leo wrote with authority, dignity, and clarity that Jesus Christ is one person, the Divine Word, in whom human and divine natures are fully united without either confusion or mixture. The Tome of Leo was received by the Council of Chalcedon in 451; upon hearing it, the council is said to have remarked that “Peter has spoken by Leo.”
Leo was not limited to keeping the peace in church disputes. When Attilla the Hun surrounded Rome in 452, Leo personally negotiated with him to accept tribute instead of plundering and destroying the city. Three years later, as the Vandals surrounded Rome, Leo again sought peace. This time his efforts failed, yet his intervention is credited with saving the city from burning and mass slaughter.
His care for the integrity of the church and the safety of the people entrusted to its care commend him to the memory of the church as one of its saints; his feast day is celebrated on November 10.
Collect for Leo the Great
O Lord our God, grant that your church, following the teaching of your servant Leo of Rome, may hold fast the great mystery of our redemption and adore the one Christ, true God and true Man, neither divided from our human nature nor separate from your divine Being; through the same Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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197 comments on “Albert the Great vs. Leo the Great”
Voting for Leo because peacemakers are so important. (And also because the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral has a fabulous cat named Leo!)
I vote for Albert. His service to God and man were great indeed. Leo deserves credit for trying to save the treasures of Rome.
Since today is the Roman feast of the chair of Peter, and my brother's name included "Leo," even though a very good friend we call Albertus Magnus, I felt that Leo deserves the accolades!
Two GREAT ones but have to go with Albert - his scholarly interest in Aristotle and having Thomas Aquinas as a STUDENT (!), his many contributions to natural science and getting his 10,000 steps in each day - I have to go with "Boots the Bishop"!
My vote is for Albert in honor of my late nephew Albert Daniel, a scientist, and his also late father Albert Leon (how's that for making the choice harder!) not a scientist, but a sweetie pie.
Leo is one of the names of my kid brother, and also today is the Roman Feast Day of the Chair of Peter.
So, even though we call a very dear friend "Albertus Magnus," I voted for Leo.
Anyone nicknamed “Boots” in this winter gets my vote!
Peace maker was the sway for me.
The German Wikipedia page for Leo der Große lists his attribute as the dragon and says he is the patron of singers, musicians and organists. I know that St. Cecilia is patron of all things musical, but I can find nothing elsewhere about Leo's affinity for music. Does anyone have more information about this? Be that as it may, Leo, God's Lion, has got my vote.
Tough one because Leo’s feat day is my birthday...shared also by Martin Luther.
Another really difficult choice today. I have quoted from Albert the Great in a dissertation and really admire his significant achievements in the fields of science and theology, however my father was named for Leo, as is my son. In a world of widening divisions, a vote for a peacemaker is a good path to choose. And if, as seems likely, Albert goes through I will happily vote for Albert next time.
Close matchup as they are both very deserving. I grew up in Bavaria and have visited Cologne, so I'm partial to Albert.
Blessed is Leo, a much-needed peace makers.
I like the idea of Leo the peacemaker. But are you waging peace if you squelch ideas that do not coincide with your worldview even if you speak with authority? This is my first day with the Lent madness and the writings lead me down several
rabbitholes. I was not familiar with the specific heresies listed so I googled and brittanicalled them. Why is pelagianism heretical? I like Leo's understanding of Christ as both and. Would he have considered Trinitarianism heresy? This game makes me pursue further reading on early Christianity and thats a good thing. The story of Leo also makes me consider can we be both peacemaker and agressor? The legacy of "Boots" was interesting and he is a fellow writer, but I think the actions of Leo will have more legs.
It's Albert for me. Leo seems to have received his fame and rewards while alive. Albert seems to be one so busy working to help others his material rewards were fewer. The quiet, humble type, that's what I like. Leo's all dolled up in his picture, while Albert is surrounded by papers and books, pen in hand inspired by an image of Mary.
Extra points for Albert's passing on my birthday.
Need a "like" button for that one!
I love this thread. Thank you both.
I agree!
Belated best wishes on your 740th birthday, Richard!
;^)
And many happy returns! Well played, CaBoots.
Well, I never learned in my medical technology internship (my first career) that we had a patron saint. So, for that reason only, I am voting for Albert the Great!
Two Greats ---
Neither one berate.
Facing the Hun,
seems hard to be done.
Just one meeting-- you failed to go.
And upon your head, they hung the Bishop chapeau.
Centuries later --
came one greater?
Thinker, Bishop, teacher,
Influenced Aquinas and the study of creature.
Eclectic his interest--
(If only he'd had Pinterest!)
Sewing the Gospel roots,
In only his black boots,
Renders him just slightly More,
And I did vote for.
I like it!
My vote is for Leo. Although I admite all devoted academics we need more peacemakers today..
Hard choice today... a believer in science and a believer in peace..both are needed
now more than ever! At first, I didn't quite understand the pairing but, given where
our country is in 2021...makes perfect sense! Cudo's for those who nominated....
While I was leaning toward voting for the peacemaker, I have to go with Albert as a religious person who believed in SCIENCE!
Vote (at this point..10:00 Pacific Standard time) is closer than I thought it would be. On the one hand, we have an over achiever (bet he couldn't sit still and focus in school!) who seemed to excel in everything he did. And humanity has benefited many times over for his contributions. On the other hand, he have a quiet man, going where he was needed to help settle arguments and differences both within the church as well as outside its walls. I can see him...quietly listening to 'both sides' and then dispensing words of wisdom that settled the issues. Peacemaking IS hard and in this day and age when humanity doesn't seem able to agree on anything, we disparately need peacemakers. Leo the Great has my vote.
Albert is the science saint. The only one in the bracket. Although I admire Leo’s peace skills and know they are important, it’s Albert for me!
A difficult decision today. Albert had me at Boots Bishop. My long ago first cat was named Boots. I spend a part of each day trying to get a COVID vaccination so my thoughts are with our besieged medical workers. And as a Roman by baptism who fled to the Anglican Church, papal authority gives me an itch. Albert it is.
I think Albert has got this in the can, but I voted for the peacemaker Leo because we need more people like him now. Plus I’m a member of the Lions Club (Panthera Leo)
I’ll have to vote for Albert as the Patron Saint of Cincinnati! But I’m also a Leo.
It wasn't easy to choose today, but I voted for Albertus. The combination of science and religion is what finally won me over. Plus our parish shares space with a group of Dominicans who lead the campus ministry of a nearby university.
But I won't throw a fit if Leo wins.
Going with then German. Albert the
Great!
After reading about Albert, I thought that I was going to go with him, but Leo’s efforts at peacemaking really impressed me.
Our CREDO Team leader is Albert...and he is fabulous! 13th century or 21st century- Alberts rock!
Boots the bishop! Good one! But for the shallowest of reasons, my vote goes to Albert. I’m Cincinnati born and bred. . . .and then Albert is the name of my husband’s father, a man I never met but who left an indelible mark on the spirit of my dear husband. Then there is the Summa which I was blest (cursed?) to study in college taught by a Dominican; something that I KNOW would never have happened without Aquinas’ association with Albert (and had I been left to my own devices would have missed out on.) In truth both of today’s candidates are most worthy!