This man was a true hero

Today is the feast day of a marvellous saint, St Albert of Jerusalem. I am always profoundly moved when I think of him, not so much because he gave Carmelites their Rule of Life (and helped other Religious Orders with legal issues) but chiefly because he made the ultimate sacrifice of true leadership – he rebuked and deposed from office a man who was giving an evil example - and the man then murdered him.  (I am indebted for the following account of Albert to an O Carm website.)

Saint Albert was born towards the middle of the 12th century in Castel Gualtieri in Emilia, Italy. He entered the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross at Mortara, Pavia, and became Prior there in 1180. In 1184, he was named bishop of Bobbio, and the following year he was transferred to Vercelli which he governed for twenty years.  During this period, he undertook diplomatic missions of national and international importance with rare prudence and firmness: in 1194, he effected a peace between Pavia and Milan and, five years later, also between Parma and Piacenza. In 1191, he celebrated a diocesan synod which proved of great value for its disciplinary provisions which continued to serve as a model until modern times. He was also involved in a large amount of legislative work for various religious orders.  In 1205, Albert was appointed Patriarch of Jerusalem and a little later nominated Papal Legate for the ecclesiastical province of Jerusalem. He arrived in Palestine early in 1206 and lived in Acre because, at that time, Jerusalem was occupied by the Saracens. In Palestine, Albert was involved in various peace initiatives, not only among Christians but also between the Christians and non-Christians and he carried out his duties with great energy. During his stay in Acre he gathered together the hermits on Mount Carmel and gave them a Rule. On 14th September 1214, during a procession, he was stabbed to death by the Master of the Hospital of the Holy Spirit, whom Albert had reprimanded and deposed for his evil life.

Thanks be to God for this sacrificial life and martyr’s death!

Intercessions:

Chris, slowly recovering but still in Intensive Care

Baby S, in recovery from a complex heart operation