Who was Albertus Magnus to St. Thomas Aquinas?

St. Albertus Magnus was a prominent teacher, mentor, and master to St. Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas was considered one of Albertus’s chief disciples, and the two maintained a close relationship throughout their lives, even as they navigated certain doctrinal differences.123

Their association began in 1245 at the University of Paris, where Aquinas studied under Albertus. In 1248, Aquinas accompanied his mentor to Cologne to help organize the first Dominican studium generale in Germany.23

The depth of their bond was evident after Aquinas’s death in 1274. Several years later, an elderly Albertus traveled to Paris specifically to defend the reputation and writings of his former student, which had faced ecclesiastical condemnation.12