September 25th - St. Albert of Jerusalem
Traudel
Albert was born at Parma, Italy about the year 1149. Little is known of his
early life but he came from a distinguished family and was well educated. He
received degrees in theology, as well as civil and canon law. He became a
Canon Regular at the Abbey of the Holy Cross in Mortara, Lombardy. In 1184,
at the age of thirty-five, he was consecrated bishop of Bobbio and soon
afterward was transferred to Vercelli in the Lombardy region.
Albert proved to be a wise and prudent leader as well as a skillful diplomat
and peacemaker. He was chosen mediator between Pope Clement III and
Frederick Barbarossa, and in 1199, under Pope Innocent III, Albert was able
to bring about peace between Parma and Piacenza.
In 1203 when the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michael, died the Canons Regular
petitioned Pope Innocent III to send Albert, a man whose wisdom and holiness
were known even to the people of Jerusalem. At that point in history the
crusaders under Godfrey de Boullion had set up a Latin kingdom of Jerusalem.
Many of the prelates appointed were of questionable character and the Church
suffered greatly. Pope Innocent reluctantly appointed Albert to the post of
Patriarch of Jerusalem and in 1205 he set out for the Holy Land.
Because of the Moslem occupation of Jerusalem from 1187, Albert located his
residence at St. Jean d'Acre. His first order of business was to establish a
relationship of trust and respect with both the Christian and Moslem
communities. This had been a major negligence among his predecessors. Albert
worked hard to keep peace between all the factions of his patriarchate.
Perhaps what Albert is best known for is the Carmelite Rule which he
compiled at the request of St. Brocard. In 16 short definitive chapters
Albert set down a rule which was confirmed by Pope Honorius III in 1226.
This was later modified by Pope Innocent IV in 1246. While the actual
founder of the Carmelites is unknown, Albert of Jerusalem was definitely its
first legislator.
Albert was summoned to attend the Lateran council by Pope Innocent III, but
circumstance prevented it. Albert had had to depose the master of the
Hospital of the Holy Spirit at Acre from his office and the disgruntled man
took his revenge on September 14, 1214, the feast of the Exaltation of the
Cross. While Albert was officiating at a procession in the Church of the
Holy Cross at Acre, the man attacked and killed him. Albert's feast has been
celebrated by the Carmelites since 1411, but it wasn't until 1666 that it
was formally approved.
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Excerpts from the rule delivered to the Brothers of Mount Carmel by Saint
Albert of Jerusalem.
Since man's life on earth is a time of trial, and all who would live
devotedly in Christ must undergo persecution and the devil, your foe, is on
the prowl like a roaring lion looking for prey to devour, you must use very
care to clothe yourselves in God's armor so that you may be ready to
withstand the enemy's ambush.
There can be no pleasing God without faith. On your head set the helmet of
salvation and so be sure of deliverance by our only Savior who sets his own
free from their sins. The sword of the spirit, the word of God, must abound
in your mouths and hearts. Let all you do have the Lord's word for
accompaniment.
Saint Quote:
Let nothing be innovated beyond what is traditional.
-Pope St. Stephen (253-257),
Bible Quote
29 I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among you,
not sparing the flock. 30 And of your own selves shall arise men speaking
perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch,
keeping in memory, that for three years I ceased not, with tears to admonish
every one of you night and day. 32 And now I commend you to God, and to the
word of his grace, who is able to build up, and to give an inheritance among
all the sanctified. (Acts 20:29-32)
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Daily Thought From The Following of Christ
It is great wisdom not to be rash in what is to be done, and not to persist
obstinately in our own opinions.
It is a part of this wisdom, also, not to believe everything men say, nor
straightway to pour into the ears of others what we have heard or believed.
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Prayer Against Covetousness
O Lord Jesus Christ, who though Thou wast rich yet for our sakes didst
become poor, grant that all over-eagerness and covetousness of earthly goods
may die in us, and the desire of heavenly things may live and grow in us;
keep us from all idle and vain expenditures, that we may always have to give
to him that needeth, and that giving not grudgingly nor of necessity, but
cheerfully, we may be loved of Thee, and be made through Thy merits
partakers of the riches of Thy heavenly treasure. Amen.
Taken from: Manual of Prayers (pg. 312)
Compiled by: Third Plenary Council of Baltimore
Imprimatur: James Cardinal Gibbons. Archbishop. Baltimore
Published by: John Murphy Company
Copyright: Original 1888