SEPTEMBER 2 – SAINT BROCARD
The 2nd of September was earlier celebrated as the Memorial of St. Brocard, Carmelite, who was one of the first Carmelites on the slopes of Mount Carmel. He was successor to St. Berthold in the governance of the Carmelites. He was born in Jerusalem to French parents and and fired with the desire of giving himself to God, he entered the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. Here he grew so famous for his holiness that upon the death of Saint Berthold, the first Latin General, Brocard was raised to his places with the unanimous consent of the Brethren. Anxious to further regular observance, he asked Blessed Albert, Patriach of Jerusalem, for a rule which should embrace every constitution of the Order in an abridged shape. it was wonderful to see how, under his government, the original Order grew in numbers and in excellence.
The Blessed Patriarch Albert, seeing his prudence and his holiness, sent him to Damascus to arrange a truce with Saladin, King of Syria and Egypt. Brocard, in carrying out this mission, gained all that he wished; and being gifted with great sagacity, he quickly brought matters to a settlement. The Viceroy of the Sultan was then suffering from leprosy and from a contraction of the hands. Brocard led him to the waters of the Jordan, and there baptized him, whereby he cleansed his body together with his soul. Having made him a loyal defender of the name of Christ, Brocard carried him to Carmel, where he took the habit, and lived without reproach, according to the Rule of the Order, until he passed hence to Christ.
The Carmelite Rule, given by St. Albert, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and addressed to him, is due to his zeal for greater uniformity in the life of the Order’s monastery in Palestine. In the reading for the feast day, his testament was formerly read: “My children, God has called us with predilection to the Order of Hermits, and by His singular gift we are called brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary. See, do not unworthily claim this name after my death. Remain constantly in goodness, abhor riches, despise the world, and straighten your lives according to that of the Virgin Mary and Elijah.” He died at the age of 80 after governing the Order for 33 years.
His feast day was suppressed from the Carmelite calendar in October 1971, the date of the Calendar Reform.
(Source: https://floscarmelivitisflorigera.blogspot.com/)