Today we celebrate the Optional Memorial of Saint Norbert, Bishop, who, with one companion, founded a religious order in a remote place called Prémontré, a valley within a forest in northern France. Joined by 12 more men, they built small huts around a chapel and later built a larger monastery. They adopted the rule of Saint Augustine and structured their daily life so that they could become true contemplatives, who would then bring the contemplative union they enjoyed into their priestly ministry to the people. Formed in the twelfth century, the order was named Canons Regular of Prémontré, or the Premonstratensians, and later became known as the Norbertines after their founder. Within a few years of its founding, women’s branches were established, and more than a dozen monasteries were erected in France, Germany, and Belgium.
In 1126, Norbert reluctantly became archbishop of Magdeburg in central Germany, a territory half pagan and half Christian. As archbishop, Norbert worked to reform the Church by weeding out immoralities among the clergy, resolving schisms, and securing the right of the Church to govern itself without the interference of the civil authority. He served as archbishop for about eight years until his death on June 6, 1134. He was canonized by Pope Gregory XIII on July 28, 1582. Saint Norbert, pray for us!
