Born to a wealthy and influential family in Trapani (Sicily) in the 13th century St Albert joined the local Carmelites at a young age, giving up his family name and wealth. Famed for his insistence on purity of heart and prayer, Albert distinguished himself for his dedication to mendicant preaching and his miracles. In the years 1280 and 1289 he was in Trapani and shortly afterwards in Messina. In the year 1296 he was prior provincial of the Carmelite Province of Sicily. He died in Messina most likely in 1307.

He was the first saint who received devotion in the Carmelite Order and was even considered its patron and “father”, a title he shared with another saint of his time, Angelus of Sicily. He was celebrated for his passionate love for purity of heart and prayer. In the 16th century, it was decided that every Carmelite church would dedicate and altar to him. Later Carmelite saints, Teresa of Jesus and Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi, were devoted to him.