St Albert of Jerusalem

“The first Carmelite ‘Formula of Life’ is found expressed in 
the Rule of St Albert of Jerusalem.” 

Constitutions 3

St Albert's life

St Albert was born in the middle of the twelfth century in a place called Castel Gualteri, Italy. He held several offices of authority within the Church including Prior of the Holy Cross at Mortara and then subsequent positions as Bishop of Bobbio (1184) and Bishop of Vercelli (1185) before becoming Bishop of Jerusalem in 1205. During this time he brought together the hermits who had settled on Mount Carmel and, at their request, wrote instructions for their way of life, a document which came to be known as The Rule of St Albert. It was a very practical guide to life within community; one which applied common sense and frequently referred to the Gospel as a model. It is said to be the shortest of all the religious rules. Notwithstanding, it is full of both spiritual wisdom and practical advice and it demonstrates St Albert’s understanding of the way scripture can be applied to monastic living, even today. On 14th September 1214 Albert was murdered in Acre. Albert was a holy man, who accomplished much in life. However, he is mainly known today for the Carmelite Rule which bears his name. His feast day is 17th September.

St Albert's life

St Albert was born in the middle of the twelfth century in a place called Castel Gualteri, Italy. He held several offices of authority within the Church including Prior of the Holy Cross at Mortara and then subsequent positions as Bishop of Bobbio (1184) and Bishop of Vercelli (1185) before becoming Bishop of Jerusalem in 1205. During this time he brought together the hermits who had settled on Mount Carmel and, at their request, wrote instructions for their way of life, a document which came to be known as The Rule of St Albert. It was a very practical guide to life within community; one which applied common sense and frequently referred to the Gospel as a model. It is said to be the shortest of all the religious rules. Notwithstanding, it is full of both spiritual wisdom and practical advice and it demonstrates St Albert’s understanding of the way scripture can be applied to monastic living, even today. On 14th September 1214 Albert was murdered in Acre. Albert was a holy man, who accomplished much in life. However, he is mainly known today for the Carmelite Rule which bears his name. His feast day is 17th September.

The Carmelite Rule


The Rule outlines the essentials of the Carmelite way of life which are:

• Living in allegiance to Christ
• Meditating always on the Word of God
• Celebrating together the Eucharist and Prayer of the Church
• Practising a vowed life of obedience, poverty and chastity
• Working generously in a spirit of evangelical self-denial  
• Engaging in constant prayer and contemplation 

Abounding in spiritual quotations, the Rule cites in full the famous passage 
from Ephesians encouraging Christians to “Put on the armour of God” Eph 6. 

The Carmelite Rule


The Rule outlines the essentials of the Carmelite way of life which are:

• Living in allegiance to Christ
• Meditating always on the Word of God
• Celebrating together the Eucharist and Prayer of the Church
• Practising a vowed life of obedience, poverty and chastity
• Working generously in a spirit of evangelical self-denial  
• Engaging in constant prayer and contemplation 

Abounding in spiritual quotations, the Rule cites in full the famous passage 
from Ephesians encouraging Christians to “Put on the armour of God” Eph 6. 

St Teresa and the Rule

In the 16th Century Teresa of Avila rooted Carmel in the ancient principles of The Rule and adapted it to include sisterly life in community. This established the renewed Carmel as a way of life which balances solitude and community that continues in today’s Carmels and is enshrined in The Constitutions. 

Excerpts from the Rule of St Albert:


5. “Each of you is to stay in his own cell or nearby, pondering the Lord's law day and night and keeping watch at his prayers unless attending to some other duty."

10. "None of the brothers must lay claim to anything as his own, but you are to possess everything in common; and each one is to receive from the Prior - that is from the brother he appoints for the purpose - whatever befits his age and needs.

16.  "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."

18.  “The apostle would have us keep silence, for in silence he tells us to work. As the prophet also makes known to us: 'Silence is the way to foster holiness'.