Albert of Trapani
Encyclopedia
Saint Albert of Trapani ( 1250 – August 7, 1306 or 1307) was a Sicilian
saint
. Born in Trapani
, he entered the Carmelite monastery
there at a very young age and was later transferred to the Carmelite house at Messina.
He worked as a mendicant preacher to the Sicilians.
The lifting of a siege
at Messina is attributed to him. In 1301, the city was under siege and blockaded by Duke Robert of Calabria. Responding to pleas for succor, Albert celebrated Mass
. As he finished, three ships loaded with grain
ran the blockade. Saved from starvation
, the city was saved as Robert lifted the siege.
.
The Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church
in Dublin contains some of his relics. On his feast day (August 7), a relic of the saint is dipped into the water of St. Albert's Well and is said to grant healing of body and mind those who use the water. However, Albert's skull
is contained in a silver statue crafted in the 18th century by the engraver Vincenzo Bonaiuto of Trápani for the saint's altar in the basilica
of Trapani.http://www.ocarm.org/alberto/iconografia_eng.htm
He is the patron saint
of Trapani.
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
. Born in Trapani
Trapani
Trapani is a city and comune on the west coast of Sicily in Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Trapani. Founded by Elymians, the city is still an important fishing port and the main gateway to the nearby Egadi Islands.-History:...
, he entered the Carmelite monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
there at a very young age and was later transferred to the Carmelite house at Messina.
He worked as a mendicant preacher to the Sicilians.
The lifting of a siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
at Messina is attributed to him. In 1301, the city was under siege and blockaded by Duke Robert of Calabria. Responding to pleas for succor, Albert celebrated Mass
Mass
Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...
. As he finished, three ships loaded with grain
GRAIN
GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
ran the blockade. Saved from starvation
Starvation
Starvation is a severe deficiency in caloric energy, nutrient and vitamin intake. It is the most extreme form of malnutrition. In humans, prolonged starvation can cause permanent organ damage and eventually, death...
, the city was saved as Robert lifted the siege.
Veneration
His cultus was confirmed in 1454 and he was canonized on May 31, 1476, by Pope Sixtus IVPope Sixtus IV
Pope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. His accomplishments as Pope included the establishment of the Sistine Chapel; the group of artists that he brought together introduced the Early Renaissance into Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age,...
.
The Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church
Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church
The Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church is a Roman Catholic church in Dublin, Ireland maintained by the Carmelite order. The church is noted for having the relics of Saint Valentine, which were donated to the church in the 19th century by Pope Gregory XVI from their previous location in the cemetery...
in Dublin contains some of his relics. On his feast day (August 7), a relic of the saint is dipped into the water of St. Albert's Well and is said to grant healing of body and mind those who use the water. However, Albert's skull
Human skull
The human skull is a bony structure, skeleton, that is in the human head and which supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.In humans, the adult skull is normally made up of 22 bones...
is contained in a silver statue crafted in the 18th century by the engraver Vincenzo Bonaiuto of Trápani for the saint's altar in the basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
of Trapani.http://www.ocarm.org/alberto/iconografia_eng.htm
He is the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Trapani.