Son of the Count of Louvain, Albert was elected Bishop of Liège but faced opposition from Emperor Henry VI. After being confirmed by Pope Celestine III in Rome and named cardinal, he was cowardly assassinated in Reims in 1192 by imperial emissaries. His relics rest today between Liège and Louvain.
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SAINT ALBERT, BISHOP OF LIÈGE AND MARTYR (1192).
Origins and Youth
Albert, son of the Count of Louvain, entered the clergy of Liège where he distinguished himself by his piety and became archdeacon.
Albert was born in Louv Louvain Birthplace of the saint in Belgium. ain, a city in Belgium (Brabant), in the middle of the 13th century; he was the son of Godfrey III, Count of Louvain, and Margaret of Limburg. His brother, Henry I, was Duke of Lorraine and Brabant. As pious as he was noble, from his childhood he feared God, whom he chose as the portion of his inheritance by entering among the clerics of the c athed Liège Episcopal see of the saint. ral of Liège. As he shone by the purity of his morals and the holiness of his life, he was raised first to the dignity of archdeacon. His simplicity, his ingenuousness, his gentleness, his meekness, his angelic purity, and his great charity toward his neighbor having drawn all eyes upon him, after the death of Bishop Radulphe, the public voice loudly designated him to succeed him.
A contested election
Elected Bishop of Liège, Albert faced armed opposition from the Count of Hainaut and the hostility of Emperor Henry VI, who imposed a rival.
However, God showed him how much he would have to suffer for his name. His election was legitimate; nevertheless, Baldwin, Count of Hainaut and Namur, undertook to annul it; he entered Liège with an armed force, with the intention of enthroning one of his relatives in the chair of that Church. Albert did not have the support of Henry VI, Emperor of Germany; this simoniacal prince had awarded the episcopate to Lothair of Hochstaden. Albert had recourse to the Roman Pontiff. He left Liège in disguise so as not to be arrested by his enemies, and, after a most perilous journey, arrived in Rome, where he was received by Pope Celestine III. The Pontiff, having maturely examined the matter according to canonical rule, pronounced that Albert had been legitimately designated Bishop of Liège, and, to reward his eminent virtues, he named him cardinal. Upon his return from Rome, he was consecrated by the Archbishop of Reims. However, for the love of peace, he remained in that city while waiting for it to please God to put an end to the enterprises of the wicked. While he was living peacefully in this asylum, some wretches, won over and bribed by the emperor, went to Reims, feigning to also be fleeing the prince's vengeance. Not suspecting their perfidy, Albert admitted them into his lodging as companions in misfortune, victims like him of Henry's injustice, and shared his meager resources with them. One day, they lured him out of the city under a specious pretext, and massacred him on November 21, 1192. His body was placed in the sepulcher of the archbishops of Reims; in 1612, Archduke Albert transferred it from Reims to Brussels. He presented it to the Carmelite convent he had just founded, and carried it himself on his shoulders, accompanied by the apostolic nuncio and a large number of prelates and lords. These precious relics were transported, in 1783, to the Carmelite convent of Saint-Denis, near Paris, and brought back to Brussels seven years later. In 1822, they were divided, with the authorization of Pius VII (decree of September 11, 1821), between the Cathedral of Liège and Saint-Pierre of Leu Saint-Pierre de Louvain Birthplace of the saint in Belgium. ven.
Recourse to the Pope and exile in Reims
Albert goes to Rome to see Celestine III, who confirms his election and appoints him cardinal; he is subsequently consecrated in Reims.
He is depicted pierced by a sword or dagger.
Martyrdom in Reims
Betrayed by men in the pay of the emperor, Albert was assassinated outside Reims on November 21, 1192.
Proper of Reims.
Translation of the relics
His remains traveled between Reims, Brussels, and Saint-Denis before being divided between Liège and Louvain in the 19th century.
However, God showed him how much he would have to suffer for his name. His election was legitimate; nevertheless, Baldwin, Count of Hainaut and Namur, undertook to annul it; he entered Liège with an armed force, with the design of enthroning one of his relatives in the chair of that Church. Albert did not have the support of Henry VI, Emperor of Germany; that simoniacal prince had awarded the episcopate to Lothair of Hochstaden. Albert had recourse to the Roman Pontiff. He left Liège in disguise so as not to be arrested by his enemies, and, after a most perilous journey, arrived in Rome, where he was received by Pope Celestine III. The Pontiff, having maturely examined the matter according to canonical rule, pronounced that Albert had been legitimately designated Bishop of Liège, and, to reward his eminent virtues, he named him cardinal. Upon his return from Rome, he was consecrated by the Archbishop of Reims. However, for the love of peace, he remained in that city while waiting for it to please God to put an end to the enterprises of the wicked. While he was living peacefully in this asylum, wretches, won over and bribed by the emperor, went to Reims, feigning to also be fleeing the vengeance of the prince. Not suspecting their perfidy, Albert admitted them into his lodging as companions in misfortune, victims like him of the injustice of Henry, and shared his meager resources with them. One day, they lured him out of the city under a specious pretext, and massacred him on November 21, 1192. His body was deposited in the sepulcher of the archbishops of Reims; in 1612, Archduke Albert transferred it from Reims to Brussels. He presented it to the Carmelite convent he had just founded, and carried it himself on his shoulders, accompanied by the apostolic nuncio and a great number of prelates and lords. These precious relics were transported, in 1783, to the Carmelite convent of Saint-Denis, near Paris, and brought back to Brussels seven years later. In 1822, they were divided, with the authorization of Pius VII (decree of September 11, 1821), between the cathedral of Liège and Saint-Pierre of Louvain.
Iconography and Liturgy
The saint is traditionally represented with the instrument of his martyrdom, a sword or a dagger.
He is represented pierced by a sword or dagger.
Proper of Reims.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Entered the clergy of Liège Cathedral
- Elevation to the dignity of archdeacon
- Election as Bishop of Liège after the death of Radulph
- Perilous journey to Rome in disguise to meet the Pope
- Appointed cardinal by Celestine III
- Consecrated by the Archbishop of Reims
- Assassinated by men bribed by Emperor Henry VI