St. Albert of Jerusalem
(1149 - 1214)
Feast Day - September 17
St. Albert of Jerusalem was born Albert Avogardo in Parma,
Italy in 1149. As a student he studied theology and law.
In 1180 he became Canon Regular of the Holy Cross at Mortara and was elected
their prior. At age he was named Bishop of Bobbio and a year later, in 1185,
he was named Bishop of Vercelli and was appointed by Pope Innocent III as his
legate to Northern Italy.
St. Albert became prominent for his negotiating skills. He mediated a dispute
between the Emperor or Frederick Barbarossa and Pope Clement III. As well, he
was successful in negotiating a peace between Parma and Piacenza. He played
a role in settling disputes between different Frankish Factors.
At age of 54, in 1205, St. Albert was appointed Patriarch of Jerusalem and the
year following was named Papal Legate to the Holy Land. Upon his appointment
he took up residence in Acre, which was a few kilometers from Mount Carmel,
Sometime between 1206 and 1214 he was approached by the Latin hermits of Mount
Carmel with the request to prepare for them a written "formula of life" based
on their own traditional patters. This is how the primitive Rule of Carmelites
came about. It was not until Jan. 30, 1226 that Pope Honorious III gave official
approval to the Carmelite Rule of Life written by Albert Patriarch of Jerusalem.
On September 14, 1214, at the age of 63, St. Albert was assassinated during
a procession on the Feast of Exaltation. His assassin was the former Director
of the Hospital of the Holy Spirit. St. Albert had downgraded his position and
rebuked him for wrongdoing. St. Albert was stabbed three times and died in his
liturgical vestments. As he was dying St. Albert asked for forgiveness for his
murderer.
