The liturgy honors St. Albert the Great, an immensely influential theologian of his time, whose writings continue to guide the Church.
Pope Benedict XVI gave an excellent summary of his life during a general audience in 2010. He explained how he was even called "Great" during his life.
Faith and science
One of his largest contributions to Western Civilization is the reality that faith and science were compatible, even showcasing how scientists can embark on the path of holiness.
This was a profound connection that wasn't always welcome in medieval Europe. Faith was (and still is in some places) seen as something in opposition to science. However, St. Albert proves to us that we can look at the created universe and dive deeper into its mysteries.
Many scientists since then have been inspired by his example.
One of his best known pupils was St. Thomas Aquinas, who would go on to shape the Church's intellectual tradition in a radical way.
St. Albert's "greatness" reminds us that everything can be surrendered to God and that even the sharpest minds of the world can (and should) see God's beauty in their realms of study.
