Saint Albert of Jerusalem
Bishop and Lawgiver of Carmel
September 17: Celebrated as a Feast with proper texts.
Albert Avogadro was born in the middle of the twelfth century in Castel Gualteri in Italy. He became a Canon Regular of the Holy Cross at Mortara and was elected their prior in 1180. Named Bishop of Bobbio in 1184 and of Vercelli in 1185, he was made Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem in 1205 where, in word and example, he was the model of a good pastor and peace‑maker. While he was Patriarch (1206‑1214) he united the hermits of Carmel into one community and wrote a Rule for them. He was murdered at Acre on September 14th, 1214.
Prayer
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, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.
Scripture Readings
Ephesians 6:11-18; Gospel - Matthew 20:25-28.
Texts taken from the “Carmelite Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours,”
Institutum Carmelitanum, Rome: 1993
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And in Light of our hermit heritage and life in Christ on Mt. Carmel
John the Dwarf and the angels
This story is told in the latest Road to Emmaus (a very good issue if I may say so). I enjoyed the mix of comedy ajavascript:void(0)nd instruction.
“It was said of Abba John the Dwarf, that one day he said to his elder brother, ‘I should like to be free of all care, like the angels, who do not work, but ceaselessly offer worship to God.’ So he took off his cloak and went away into the desert. After a week he came back to his brother. When he knocked on the door, he heard his brother say, before he opened it ‘Who are you?’ He said, ‘I am John, your brother.’ But he replied, ‘John has become an angel, and henceforth he is no longer among men.’ Then the other begged him saying, ‘It is I.’ However, his brother did not let him in, but left him there in distress until morning. Then, opening the door, he said to him, ‘You are a man and you must once again work in order to eat.’ Then John made a prostration before him, saying, ‘Forgive me.’”
- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, pg. 86