St Albert of Sicily

One of the old Carmelite saints is commemorated today. If you happen to have an old Rituale, you may have seen the Blessing of St Albert's Water. This is that St Albert.

His history from the old "Book of Carmelite Devotions":

St Albert was born of noble parents, at Trapani in Sicily. He was consecrated before his birth to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and when very young entered her Order at Messina, where he was distinguished for his great devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and for his angelic purity. After a life full of virtue and extraordinary miracles, he died near Messina on the 7th of August, 1306. At his funeral two angels appeared to all who were present in the church, and intoned the Mass “Os Iusti” of Confessors instead of the Mass of Requiem, which the clergy were about to chant for the repose of his soul.

The use of water blessed with a relic of the Saint, for the cure of the sick and particularly for cases of fever, is well established in the Order of Carmel, and is justified by innumerable miracles, which have continued without interruption to the present day.

Inflamed with charity for his neighbor, he besought the most holy Virgin to attach a healing power to all water which he would bless in her name and in that of her divine Son. His prayer was granted; he used this power during life, and has continued to exercise it since his death, with marvelous efficacy, by means of his holy relics, as has been proved by innumerable persons who have taken this water with faith and confidence while invoking his intercession.