Saint Albert of Jerusalem

Today Carmelites celebrate the Feast of Saint Albert of Jerusalem who wrote the Rule for the Carmelite order sometime between 1206 and 1214. The hermits on Mount Carmel were most likely laymen who were living a community life of prayer and contemplation. They were already living the rule in their day to day life and it was not something new that was formulated by Saint Albert. The Patriach of Jerusalem, Saint Albert who even though was not a Carmelite himself assisted the Carmelite order by writing down the Rule for Living the Carmelite way, which was later presented to the Pope and so the Carmelite order was officially approved by the Church. For this reason the Carmelites celebrate the Feast of Saint Albert, the Law Giver today. 
"[4]The first thing I require is for you to have a Prior, one of yourselves, who is to be chosen for the office by common consent, or that of the greater and maturer part of you. Each of the others must promise him obedience - of which, once promised, he must try to make his deed the true reflection - and also chastity and the renunciation of ownership."  - Paragraph 4 of the Rule of Saint Albert
You can read the full text of Our Rule here: https://www.ocarm.org/en/content/ocarm/our-rule
In accordance with above rule, our new Prior General, Fr.Miceal O'Neil O.Carm was elected today during the General Chapter which was in session in Sassone, Rome, Italy. We welcome our new Prior General and we bid adieu to our Former Prior General Fr. Fernando Milan O.Carm who served us for 12 years!