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: he wrote the statutes for the canons of Biella and was among the advisers who drew up the Rule of the Humiliates.

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 Formula vitae. 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.

In order to mark the 8th Centenary of the death of Saint Albert of Jerusalem, the General Council of the Order have organized a weekend seminar in Rome from 10th to 12th October 2014. Those taking part will include the Prior General, Fr. Fernando Millan Romeral, O.Carm., the Superior General of the Discalced Carmelites, Fr. Saverio Cannistrà, OCD, Sr. Anastasia di Gerusalemme, O.Carm. (RAV), Fr. Vincenzo Mosca, O.Carm. (Neap), Bro. Patrick Mullins, O.Carm. (Hib) Fr. Bruno Secondin, O.Carm. (Ita) Fr. Kees Waaijman, O.Carm. (Neer) The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude, Fouad Twal will also speak at the seminar, and together with Frs. Fernando and Saverio, will celebrate Mass at the Carmelite Church of Santa Maria in Traspontina, Rome at 8.00 am on Sunday 12 October (citoc-online 54/2014).

From the 19th to the 23rd of August 2014 the first part of the Carmelite European Youth programme “Awakening” took place at Casa São Nuno, Fatima, Portugal. In all there were 58 participants from the Spanish provinces, Ireland, The Netherlands and Portugal. Also participating were the novices from the European Carmelite Novitiate at Salamanca and a group with the Hermanas de la Virgen Maria del Monte Carmelo.

The “Awakening” Project, which was presented at the General Chapter of 2013 and supported by the European Provincials, is part of an on-going engagement with young people in Europe in Carmelite spirituality and history. This intensive programme of formation at Fatima was led by the Carmelite European Youth Committee, Sabrina Rubio Perez, Aoife Merrins, Victor Navarrro Poncela and Carmelites Luca Sciarelli, Dave Twohig and Tommaso Bacci, and coordinated by the General Councillor for Europe, John Keating. Speaking during the meeting were the Prior General, Fr. Fernando Millán Romeral (on Saints Nuno and Edith Stein and Blessed Titus Brandsma), Fr. Michael Plattig, (on Prayer with reference to Saints Teresa of Avila and John of Cross), Sister Rosario Alvaros, HVMMC (on the Virgin Mary in our tradition) and Fr. Desidero García Martínez (on the Carmelite Rule, history and tradition). Fr. Raul Maraví, Councillor General for the Americas also participated and helped with translations. During the gathering the group visited Batalha a place connected with the life of Saint Nuno, and they concluded their programme by participating in the Saturday evening candlelit procession at the Shrine of our Lady of Fatima.

The event was made possible through the generous hospitality of the Portuguese General Commissariat. The Commissary General, Fr. Ricardo dos Reis Rainho and the director of Casa São Nuno, Fr. Agostinho Marques Castro were present throughout the meeting.

The second part of the programme for the Carmelite “Awakening” Project will take place in August of next year (2015) at San Felice del Benaco, Italy. This second part is intended for the other half of the European Geographical Area -  the Italian Provinces, Malta, Germany, Poland, France and the Czech Republic.