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November 15 | Study (Pt 2.)
A.D. 1200–1280
What was your favorite subject to study as a child? And do you still spend time exploring that subject today?
For Albert, he loved science so much that he would study anything he could get his hands on. Insects, plants, the animal kingdom, outer space—none of it was beyond his interest. “Do there exist many worlds or is there but a single world?” Albert once asked. But his interests weren’t limited to the natural world. He was also fascinated and deeply passionate about philosophy and theology.
Albert dissected his learnings and taught them to his students, including Thomas Aquinas, who would later become one of the greatest thinkers of all time. Although it might sound simple, one of the greatest concepts Albert came up with during his studies was his very own three step “formula for holiness.”
Albert gained this life-changing wisdom exploring the faith in his studies. All that time learning helped him get to the essence of things. What wisdom have you discovered in your study of the faith?
Paul advised the Romans, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) Continuous learning is the process that leads to the renewing of the mind. There is so much to discover about Catholicism. If we spent our whole lives studying it, we would still lie on our deathbeds and marvel at how little we know compared to how much there is to know.
What we learn from Catholics like Albert, who lived with passion and purpose, is that learning a little bit more about our faith each day fuels our spiritual development and helps us to discover who we truly are and the plan God has for our lives.
Most of us are not called to formally study theology or philosophy or science, but all of us are called to grow each day in our understanding of the Catholic faith. Without this, we very quickly and easily become conformed to the world.
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND STUDYING YOUR FAITH? WHAT TOPICS WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLORE NEXT?
I will renew my mind by studying the faith!
This reflection is brought to you from book title.
Feast Day: November 15
Feast Day Shared By: Saint Joseph Pignatelli and Saint Malo
Patron Saint of: Natural Sciences, Medical Technicians, Philosophers, and Scientists
Symbols: Book and Quill
Canonized: December 16, 1931
Canonized By: Pope Pius XI