Charles François d'Abra de Raconis
Physical Effects of Abstinence
Acacius, Patriarch of Constantinople
Diocese of Ascoli, Satriano, and Cirignola
Acclamation (in Papal Elections)
The Ass (in Caricature of Christian Beliefs and Practices)
Assemblies of the French Clergy
Assistant at the Pontifical Throne
Right of Voluntary Association
Association of Priestly Perseverance
Little Sisters of the Assumption
Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Vicariate Apostolic of Athabasca
François Hédelin, Abbé d'Aubignac
Teaching of St. Augustine of Hippo
Works of St. Augustine of Hippo
Augustinians of the Assumption
Pierre du Bois, Baron d'Avaugour
John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, Baron Acton
Ad Apostolicae Dignitatis Apicem
Adam in Early Christian Liturgy and Literature
Administrator (of Ecclesiastical Property)
Advocates of Roman Congregations
Charles Constance César Joseph Matthieu d'Agoult
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa of Nettesheim
Michael and Nicetas Akominatos
Bl. Albert Berdini of Sarteano
Diocese of Alessandria della Paglia
Alpha and Omega (in Jewish Theology)
History of the Christian Altar
Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alva
Ambo (in the Russian and Greek Church)
Pre-Columbian Discovery of America
American Protective Association
Heinrich Bernhard, Freiherr von Andlaw
Bl. Angelo Carletti di Chivasso
Early Christian Representations of Angels
College and Church of the Anima (in Rome)
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
St. Anselm of Lucca, the Younger
Antiphon (in the Greek Church)
Vicariate Apostolic of Antofogaste
Fray Domingo de la Anunciación
Apostolic Union of Secular Priests
Diocese of Aquino, Sora, and Pontecorvo
Prefecture Apostolic of Araucania
Commission of Sacred Archæology
(Albrecht II.)
Eighteenth Archbishop of Magdeburg in Saxony, date of birth unknown; d. 1232. He was the son of Gunther III, Count of Kevernburg, and began his studies at Hildesheim, completing them later at Paris and Bologna. At an early age he was made a prebendary of the Magdeburg cathedral, and in 1200 was appointed Provost of the Cathedral Chapter by Innocent III. Through the influence of the Bishop of Halberstadt, he was nominated as the successor of Ludolph, Archbishop of Magdeburg (d.1205). After receiving the papal approbation, which was at first withheld, partly on account of those who had taken part in his election and partly on his account of his attitude towards Philip of Suabia, Albert proceeded to Rome, where he was consecrated bishop by the Pope (Dec., 1206) and received the pallium. He entered Magdeburg on Palm Sunday, 15 April, 1207, and five days later a conflagration destroyed many of the buildings in the city, including his own cathedral. One of his first cares was to repair the damage wrought by fire, and in 1208 he laid the corner-stone of the present cathedral, which, though completed 156 years later, serves as his most fitting memorial. He likewise rebuilt a large part of the city, and is regarded as the founder of the Neustadt. Magdeburg was also indebted to him for several valuable privileges which he obtained from Otto IV after the death of Philip of Suabia. Albert did much to further the interest of religion. He established the Dominicans (1224), and the Franciscans (1225) in the city, and also founded a convent for women in honour of St. Mary Magdalen.
But Albert's activity was not confined to his diocese. He also played a prominent part in the great struggle for the imperial crown, which marked the close of the twelfth and the beginning of the thirteenth centuries. Even before his consecration, he had inclined to the side of Philip of Suabia, who sought the crown in spite of his nephew Frederick, the son and heir of Henry VI (d.28 Sept., 1197). But later, accepting the papal "Deliberation", he gave his support to Otto IV, second son of Henry the Lion, who had been set up as anti-king by a party headed by Adolphus of Cologne and crowned at Aix-la-Chapelle. After the assassination of Philip (July, 1208) Albert did much his rival acknowledge as king. Otto proceeded to Rome, accompanied by Albert, where hi was crowned by the Pope on 4 Oct., 1209, and soon after seized Ancona and Spoleto--part of the papal territories. Upon attempting to enter Sicily he was excommunicated by Innocent III (Maundy Thursday, 1211), and his subjects released from their allegiance. Albert, after some hesitation, published the bull of excommunication and thenceforth transferred his allegiance to Frederick II, the Hohenstaufen, son of Henry VI. In 1212 Otto returned to Germany and defied the Pope. The struggles that followed, in which Magdeburg and its neighbourhood suffered severely, did not come to an end until Otto's power was broken at the battle of Bouvines (1214). Albert is said to have died in 1232 during an interval of peace between the Empire and the Papacy.
Mon. Germ. Hist., XIV, 418, Gesta Archep. Magde; WOLTER, Gesch. der Stadt Magdeburg (1901), 27; FECHTRUP in Kirchenlex.; BARRY, Papal Monarchy, 1902; also articles on Innocent III, Frederick II, Otto IV.
H.M. BROCK