Saint Albert of Louvain

Biography

Saint Albert of Louvain, also known as Albert of Brabant, Albert of Leuven, and Albert of Liege, was born around 1166 in Brabant, in modern-day Belgium. He was the son of Duke Godfrey III of Brabant. At the young age of 12, Albert was made a canon of Liege, Belgium. This appointment was primarily a political one, guaranteeing him a stable income rather than being driven by a religious vocation. However, at the age of 21, Albert decided to give up his position as a canon and become a knight under Count Baldwin V of Hainault, who happened to be a bitter enemy of his native Brabant. Although Albert spoke of going on a Crusade, he never actually embarked on one. Instead, he gradually realized that religious life was calling him. He returned to Liege and re-entered the canonry, this time as a true vocation. Albert's dedication and piety did not go unnoticed, and he was eventually appointed as the archdeacon and provost of Brabant. In 1191, he became the Bishop of Liege. However, his episcopal appointment was not without controversy. Albert of Rethel, who was a cousin of Count Baldwin and the uncle of the Empress Constance, wife of Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI, had also sought the bishopric of Liege. He appealed to the emperor for assistance, resulting in Henry removing Albert from his position. Instead, the emperor appointed a third candidate, Lothaire, who was the provost of Bonn, Germany, as the new bishop of Liege. In response to this injustice, Albert appealed to the Vatican, seeking both recognition of his own election and the establishment of the Pope's supremacy in the matter. Pope Celestine III declared Albert's election valid and reinstated him as the Bishop of Liege. However, Lothaire refused to surrender the position and maintained the support of Henry, forcing the priests in the diocese to submit to him. Despite the challenges he faced, Albert's determination to fulfill his vocation as bishop never wavered. Bruno, the Archbishop of Cologne, Germany, was supposed to ordain Albert. However, fearing the emperor, Bruno refused. Instead, William, the Archbishop of Rheims, France, ordained Albert as a priest and later as bishop. In an attempt to resolve the situation in favor of the emperor, a group of Henry's knights ambushed and murdered Albert on November 21, 1192, on the road outside Rheims. However, their plan backfired. Lothaire was excommunicated and exiled, and Henry was forced to submit to Rome and do penance. This event also dealt a significant blow to lay investiture, which was the practice of civil control over ordinations. Saint Albert of Louvain is often depicted in art as a bishop with three swords, representing the three men who sought the bishopric of Liege. Other representations show him with a knife or sword in his hand or depict him being stabbed with a sword or knife. Some artistic depictions may also include the coat of arms of Brabant, highlighting his connection to his native region. He is venerated as a saint, and his feast days are celebrated on November 24 and November 27 in Belgium. Saint Albert of Louvain was canonized by Pope Paul V in 1621. While he does not have a specific patronage, his life and martyrdom serve as an inspiration for all those who face adversities in their pursuit of religious vocations and upholding the authority of the Church. Following his death, Saint Albert was initially buried in Rheims but later, in 1612, his relics were transferred to a Carmelite convent in Brussels, Belgium. Some of his relics were relocated to the cathedral in Liege in 1822.