St Albert of Jerusalem

Albert Avogadro (1149-1214) became Patriarch of Jerusalem in 1205. The hermits on Mount Carmel approached him to write for them a rule which would give structure and recognition to their way of life, in 1209. It was to this ‘Primitive Rule’ that St Teresa sought to return, and Carmelites continue to follow the Rule of St Albert today.

The following prayer is for the feast of St Albert of Jerusalem, which is celebrated on 17 September:

Lord God,
through St Albert of Jerusalem
you have given us a Rule of life
according to your Gospel,
to help us attain perfect love.
Through his prayers
may we always live in allegiance to Jesus Christ
and serve faithfully until death
him who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen

Albert

You must take every care to clothe yourselves in God’s armour so that you may be ready to withstand the enemy’s ambush. Your loins are to be girt with chastity, and your breast fortified by holy meditations…Put on holiness as your breastplate and it will enable you to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and strength and your neighbour as yourself. Faith must be your shield on all occasions, and with it you will be able to quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked one: 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 Saviour, 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.
Rule 16