Ascending the mountain - Conference on the Rule of St. Albert of Jerusalem

The Carmelite Rule is the least known of the great monastic and religious rules. Written by St. Albert of Jerusalem in the early 13th century, it has had enormous influence on great Carmelite saints such as St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. John of the Cross, Bl. Titus Brandsma, St Teresa and Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein). All these saints treasured the rule and its influence can be found in their writings.;Ascending the Mountain: The Carmelite Rule Today comprises the papers from a conference held in Dalgan Park, Ireland in August 2002. the editor, Fr Eltin Griffin writes in the Preface about this important event: 'Some of its papers were by those of scholarly competence and give insights and information not hitherto accessible in English. All the contributors, however, were experts, people of lived experience of the Carmelite Rule, either as enclosed nuns or more active friars. Their reflections are a serious contribution to the task of re-interpreting the Rule for our time. this is a challenge not only for nuns and friars, but for many others in the Carmelite Family, as well as for all who have found distilled wisdom for their lives in this ancient Rule.';The paradox of the Carmelite Rule is that though written for hermits on Mount Carmel, laity in the most active life situations have found in its gentle wisdom guidance for practical living.