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Home , Abbey, Norbert of Xanten

HOLY ORDERS FOR LAY PEOPLE

Following in the Footsteps of St. Norbert of — Norbertines— By Anne Tschanz n the Constitutions for the Lay IOrder of Prémontré, under the canonry of St. Michael’s in Silverado, CA, it states that as the spiritual arm of the Norbertine com- munity, its members are to “seek intimate communion with God before all else and then communion with their neighbor.” These are their chief commandments, and this charism of “communio” is meant to be brought to the world in which they live and work. Pope St. John Paul II St. was a man evil and do good, seek peace and told the Norbertines that there will who was familiar with the ways of fi nd it” (Ps 34:15). Norbert became always be the demand “to imitate, the world. He was born into a noble a chastened man, intending to do in the spirit of your founder, the ex- family in Germany around the year good deeds and atone for his past ample of the early , by living 1080. A gifted student and eloquent life. After his ordination, he tried to and promoting the ideal of cor unum et speaker, he caught the eye of the restore the apostolic spirit amongst anima una (‘All the believers were one Archbishop of and even- the secular canons. He divested in heart and mind,’ cf. Acts 4:32).” tually became chaplain to the Holy himself of his wealth and offi ces, gave For Norbert, this charge Roman Emperor, Henry V. His ear- his money to the poor and received was given to the whole Christian ly biographers said that he enjoyed permission from the Holy Father to world―men and women, lay and “the affl uence and the conveniences preach “anywhere.” Norbert called religious. The First Order (priests/ of temporal life to his heart’s desire, people to conversion and restored canons), (canonesses) living in no fear of God.” peace where there was conflict, and Third Order (lay and regulars, Two events jarred him out of his becoming known as a reconciler of i.e., sisters) are members of a single complacency. First, he witnessed peoples. religious family, all inspired by Saint Henry’s mistreatment of Pope Pas- But he was also urged to plant Norbert, each in their own way ac- chal II over the practice of lay in- roots by establishing a . cording to their calling, striving for vestiture, that is the appointment of On Christmas Day in 1121, Norbert a single apostolic ideal: to show forth bishops and by lay rulers. The and his companions made their communio, which is the Church; to be other momentous event happened profession under the Rule of St. a light to a world in darkness; and to in 1115 when Norbert was thrown Augustine in the secluded French have one mind and heart on the way from his horse by a lightning bolt. valley of Prémontré, living an in- to God. This is the Norbertine life, A voice rebuked him, and he asked: tense common life according to the all set within the context of the core “Lord, what do you want me to do?” vita apostolica, that is, in imitation of of their life—the Sacred Liturgy. He heard a voice say: “Turn from Christ and His fi rst disciples. He

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May 11 May June TS.indd 13 5/30/18 9:39 AM was eventually made Archbishop of there were almost 50 abbeys in Madgeburg where he died in 1134. the British Isles alone), so did the Norbert was noteworthy for in- enrollments of lay people into the cluding women (canonesses) in his registers. They were obligated to apostolic mission of uniting the life of recite certain prayers throughout the canons (priests) with the observances day, fast over and above those days of monastic life. The fi rst woman ac- already prescribed by the Church cepted into the order, by tradition, (for example, in Advent and on Fri- was the widow, Ricvera of Clastres days), and receive Holy Communion (d. 1136), who worked in a hospital and go to Confession at least seven established by Norbert along with times a year. care for the poor. Over the centuries, the Third For the Norbertines, celebrating Order became less visible but then the Holy Eucharist is their most im- revived, culminating in Pope Bene- portant duty. Canonesses and can- dict XIV’s approval of a new Rule ons continue this participation in the in 1751, with some mitigations liturgy by chanting the Liturgy of the day, and you will add to it that of more suited to the times (or as one Hours throughout the day. “When wedlock. May God preserve us from biographer said—the weaknesses of the liturgy is celebrated medio populi opposing the designs of Providence the age) while preserving the spirit (amid the people),” said the Norber- in your behalf.” of mortifi cation and self-denial. The tine Sisters of the Bethlehem Norbert drew up a rule of life for purpose was still to imitate “the holy of St. Joseph, “it allows Norbertines Theobald that was suffi ciently aus- virtues of our holy Father Norbert.” to achieve more fully the goal of tere for a layman and invested him At their peak, the Norbertines Saint Norbert who, inspired by the with a little woolen white in numbered 10,000 confreres. After fi rst Jerusalem community, wished 1123. (The Norbertines wear white the destruction of the abbeys caused to break bread together and pray in for by tradition it is the habit that by the Protestant Revolt and the common, to live in community and was shown to them by the Blessed French Revolution, only a small have all things in common, and to Virgin.) remnant survived in . In the grow in one heart and mind on the Theobald asked for one thing in late 19th century, the fi rst Norber- way to God.” return―that Norbert would select tine abbey in the New World was One man who rushed to meet the the right wife for him! The rest of established in DePere, Wisconsin. charismatic Norbert was Theobald, his life was spent in distributing In 1950, as the Communists moved Count of Champagne and Blois, a alms and caring for the people in in to seize their property, seven grandson of William the Conqueror. his realm, under the spiritual direc- Norbertine priests from an abbey in He had inherited vast estates and tion of the Norbertines. He died in Hungary fl ed to Austria and even- property, but this only “rendered 1151, with Norbert’s confreres by tually settled in Orange County, him more humble and more chari- his side, and his name is inscribed California, where they established table.” Theobald was known as “the in the Necrology of the Order. St. Michael’s Abbey. father of the orphan, the defender of Other illustrious men followed in From this little, faithful shoot, widows, the feeder of the hungry and Theobald’s footsteps including the great branches have formed on the the refuge of lepers,” and for build- Counts of Brienne who by “the in- Norbertine family tree. St. Michael’s ing churches and . In his tegrity of their lives and the purity of Abbey has grown to over 60 pro- desire to serve God, he was willing to their morals never belied the color of fessed Norbertines and ground on entrust to Norbert his life and his im- their habit.” a new abbey was broken this year. mense wealth. Norbert spent some But the Third Order was not re- From this thriving community, there days considering this off er, then told served just for the powerful. As the also arose in 1991 a Norbertine Theobald: “You will bear the yoke Norbertines spread across Europe Third Order of lay people, who were of the Lord as you have done till this (by the time of the Reformation drawn to the abbey by the beauty

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May 11 May June TS.indd 14 5/30/18 9:39 AM and the reverence of the Abbey’s li- damental way. God is at the center turgical life. In 1995, several women with the daily celebration of the of this group discerned a calling to Mass and the singing of the Divine religious life which resulted in the Office. The whole community is foundation of a community of Nor- invited to join in the prayers of the bertine canonesses in 1997—the fi rst Church and in the life of the Order’s in the United States. The Bethlehem apostolate. The Norbertine Canon- Priory of St. Joseph in Tehachapi, esses support these works by their California, now has 43 women and prayers, fulfi lling the contemplative is the contemplative arm of the Nor- dimension of the Order. The Lay bertine family. There are also active Order work not only towards their Norbertine sisters (properly speaking own sanctifi cation but the work of Third Order Regulars) who came to the abbey to which they are affi li- America from Slovakia in 2011 to ated, providing material and spiri- establish a new home at Sts. Peter spiritual reading and meditation. tual assistance. Ideally, members of and Paul Parish in Wilmington, Norbertines also look to Mary as the the Lay Order “in off ering their day California where they truly live the model and best means “of reaching to God, constitute a community of Norbertine motto: Ad omne opus bo- communion with her Son and with faith and charity which is one living nus paratus (prepared for every good one another in God.” Hence, daily expression of the communion of work, cf. 2 Tim 2:21). recitation of the is recom- ” (Constitutions, 6). The Lay Order of Prémontré has mended. Abstinence from meat is “I have been at court, I have been over 300 members in two chapters observed every Friday as well as in the monastery, I have enjoyed in California. For candidates, there a other fasts and penances drawn up ecclesiastical preferments,” said Saint postulancy period during which they by one’s confessor. Fulfi lling one’s Norbert, “everywhere I have learned receive spiritual formation and an duties in life is primary. The Lay that nothing excels the happiness of introduction to the devout life. After Order life is missionary when there belonging entirely to God.” two years, they are vested into the is charitable speech, modest dress, Order as novices and receive a small and service to others. white scapular. As novices, they live The Norbertine communio seems a “rule of life” suited to their state in a perfect model for today by its in- life, patterned after the fi ve marks of tegration of worship and life. It is a the Norbertine Order: devotion to way of life that responds to the deep the Holy Eucharist, prayer and cel- thirst of contemporary men and ebration of the , women for love and communion, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to serve others in the most fun- spirit of penance, and zeal for souls. NORBERTINE THIRD ORDER If it is God’s will for them to proceed, St. Norbert of Xanten, c. 1123 novices make a profession promise Founder: and receive the large white scapular Motto: Ad omne opus bonus paratus of the Norbertine Lay Order. (Prepared for Every Good Work) The Rule of Life consists of ele- External Sign: White scapular ments appropriate for the Norber- Spirituality: To seek intimate communion with God tine charism of communio and centers before all else and then communion with one’s neighbor. around the Eucharist, with daily Mission: Bringing the idea of “communio” into the world. reception of Communion recom- Formation Stages: Postulancy (2 years), (2 years) mended, and Eucharistic Adora- and Ongoing (lifetime after profession) tion. Time should be set aside for Websites: StMichaelsAbbey.com, Premontre.info or NorbertineSisters.org the Liturgy of the Hours as well as

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