Albert Patriarch of Jerusalem

Albert Patriarch Of Jerusalem, was born about 1150 at Castello di Gualtieri, near Parma. After having been prior of a community of canons, he was appointed successively bishop of Bobbio and of Vercelli. The high estimate in which his prudence, his uprightness, and his ability were held led the emperor Frederick Barbarossa and pope Clement III to choose him as arbitrator of their disputes. Henry VI, successor of Frederick, appointed him count of the empire. Popes Celestin III and Innocent III also employed him in many negotiations. In 1204 the Christians of Palestine appointed him Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, although he could not reside there because Jerusalem was in the hands of the Mussulmans. At this time he established certain wise but rigid regulations for the order of the Carmelites which were modified by the commissaries appointed by pope Innocent IV. Pope Innocent III invited Albert to be present at the General Council of Lateran, held in 1215; but Albert was assassinated the year before, Sept. 14, at Acre, by a man whom he had rebuked for his crimes. He is honored April 8 as a saint of the Order of Carmelites. Tritheim attributes to him Status Terrce Sanctce, which is unpublished. The Regula Carmelitarum is found with the Life of Albert in the Acta Sanctorum. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.