Albert was born in 1206 at Lauingen an der Donau, Swabia (now Germany). He was the son of a military nobleman. He was sent to pursue his studies at the University of Padua, where he felt attracted to the preaching of the monks and called to religious life. He entered the Order of Saint Dominic in 1223. He became an influential professor at the University of Paris and counted among his students the young Saint Thomas Aquinas.

In 1248 Albert was appointed Regent of the Studium Generale of Cologne, while Thomas became second professor and Magister Studentium (Master of Students). In 1254 Albert was elected Provincial of his Order in Germany. In the year 1260 he was appointed Bishop of Ratisbon. He was called by Pope Gregory X to attend the Council of Lyons (1274) in the deliberations of which he took an active part.

He is called "the Great", and "Doctor Universalis" (Universal Doctor), in recognition of his extraordinary genius and extensive knowledge, for he was proficient in every branch of learning cultivated in his day.

Albert wrote extensively on the Virgin Mary. His most well-known work is a commentary on the Gospel of St Luke. He knew how to attribute a defined place to Marian doctrine but he did always stress the fact that there is a great difference between the Son and the Mother.