The Rule of St. Albert Avogadro, the Patriarch of the Christian community in Jerusalem, is the first written document of the Carmelite Order. In it we learn about how the first hermits on Mount Carmel lived. Though the Rule was originally drawn up for the hermits living in community it is still the basis for Carmelite life. The Rule of St Albert is the original expression of the spirituality of Carmel and Carmelites throughout the world still retain and live this rule.
In 1209, the hermits asked St. Albert to draw up a rule of life for them, a rule that would constitute the beginning of the Carmelite Order. The Carmelite Rule of St. Albert of Jerusalem was given to the Brothers of the Most Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel between 1206 and 1214. The Rule is the shortest of the rules of any consecrated life in existence, composed almost exclusively of Scriptural precepts.
Given by St. Albert, the Rule was corrected, emended and confirmed by Pope Innocent IV.
In the Rule of St. Albert, the Christian character of Carmelite spirituality is clearly expressed as living 'a life of allegiance to Jesus Christ'.
St. Albert was the local patriarch for the Catholic Church in the Holy Land from 1204-1214 AD.
The Rule can be found here:
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