Statue of St. Dominic wearing the Premonstratensian habit (in Spain black birettas were worn) from La Vid.

Today we commemorate the life of Blessed Hroznata, martyr of our Order. Hroznata was born of noble parents in Bohemia around 1170. His mother consecrated him to the care of the Blessed Virgin from his birth. Although he appeared to be a still-born child, his mother's trust in the Virgin Mary's intercession brought Hroznata both life and good health. Twice as a young boy he came close to death: once when the heavy wheels of a carriage passed over him, and again when he fell into a river. But Hroznata grew into a distinguished young man and married a young lady from a noble family. After the premature death of his wife and child, he felt alone and abandoned. But, turning his vision to the spiritual, he resolved to place his earthly riches at the disposal of the Church. In 1193 he gave his lands and possessions to the Norbertine Order for the foundation of the Abbey of Tepl. He made a promise to God to take part in the Crusade of 1197 and left with the Crusaders for the Holy Land. Several obstacles, especially in the transporting of the Crusaders by sea, led to the abandonment of the Crusade. Hroznata returned home via Rome where he was released from his promise by Pope Celestin III, who encouraged him instead to found a community of Norbertine sisters at Chotieschow. In the meantime Hroznata felt a growing desire to enter the Order himself. To that end he sought advice from the pope and received the white habit of the Order from Innocent III in 1202. Many trials awaited Hroznata. Upon returning to Tepl as a laybrother, he was appointed overseer of the abbey's immense lands and became embroiled in various disputes involving property rights and ownership of land. With the power invested in him by his abbot, Hroznata fought strenuously against greedy nobles who tried in every way to gain control of the patrimony of Tepl. With courage and strength he openly opposed these men, thereby making many enemies. One day while travelling from Tepl to Lichtenstadt, Hroznata was seized by a band of hostile knights and imprisoned on Mt. Kinsberg. There he suffered a slow and agonizing death by starvation. He died on July 14, 1217. His cult as a martyr was officially confirmed by the Holy See in 1897. Hroznata is pictured with the crown of nobility which he renounced for the sake of Christ's kingdom, and with the palm of martyrdom, holding a church which recalls his foundation of the Abbey of Tepl.

The canons of Tepl maintain an excellent multi-lingual site promoting the cult of Blessed Hroznata where an English translation of his life may be found.

Hic est vere martyr, qui pro Christi nómine sánguinem suum fudit, qui minas iúdicum non tímuit, sed ad cæléstia regna pervénit 

"Brothers, do not be surprised and do not be afraid. Unwittingly you have pursued falsehood thinking it to be the truth. If you had been taught the truth first you would have been found effortlessly tending toward salvation, just as you now effortlessly lean toward perdition."
- St. Norbert to the people of Antwerp (Vita B)

Summi regis cor, aveto,
Te saluto corde laeto,
Te complecti me delectat
Et cor meum hoc affectat;
Ut ad te loquar, toleres.

Quo amore vulnebaris!
Quo dolore torquebaris,
Cum te totus exhaurires,
Ut te nobis impertires
Et nos a morte tolleres!

O mors illa, quam avara,
Quam immitis, quam amara,
Quae per cellam introivit,
In qua mundi vita vivit,
Te mordens, cor dulcissimum!

Propter mortem, quam tulisti,
Quando pro me defecisti,
Cordis mei, cor dilectum,
Totum in te fer affectum;
Hoc est, quod opto plurimum.

Per medullam cordis mei,
Peccatoris atque rei,
Tuus amor transferatur,
Quo potenter vulneratur,
Quicunque te complectitur.

Illo fonte me fecunda,
Salva, sana, fove, munda,
Ex te laute qui manavit
Totum hominemque lavit,
In te hasta dum flectitur.

Dilatare, aperire,
Tamquam rosa fragrans mire;
Cordi meo te coniunge,
Unge illud et compunge;
Qui amat te, quid patitur!

Quidnam amat, nescit vere,
Nec se valet conhibere,
Nullum modum dat amori,
Multa morte vellet mori,
Amore quisque vincitur.

Vivas! vivas! tibi clamo,
Dulce cor, te namque amo;
Ad cor meum inclinare,
Ut se possit applicare
Devoto tibi pectore.

Tuo vivat in amore.
Ne dormitet in torpore;
Ad te oret, ad te ploret,
Te adoret, te odoret
Te fruens omni tempore.

Rosa cordis, aperire,
Cuius odor fragrat mire;
Te dignare dilatare,
Fac cor meum anhelare,
Dulcem odorem sapiat.

Ad te trahe tu cor meum
Nec me spernas, pie, reum,
Ut iam tibi sit vicinum,
Infer intra tuum sinum,
Ut se in te inveniat.

Hic repauset, hic moretur;
Ecce, iam post te movetur,
Te ardenter vult sentire,
Vult patenter introire,
Ut bene de te sentiat,

Tu tuorum iam dulcedo,
Ego totum tibi me do,
Totus in te introire
Volo, noli contraire,
Cor tuum me suscipiat.

Corpus Christi is the titular feast of our canonry. We marked this occasion on with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Chad's which began with Mass of the Solemnity in the Premonstratensian Rite and was followed by all day Exposition. One of the patrons of our canonry Saint Juliana of Liège, a Premonstratensian nun during the 13th century, can be credited with the formal establishment of the feast of Corpus Christi. She was born in 1193 and entered the convent of Mount Cornillon. She entered the convent at the age of 13 and worked in the hospital, caring for the sick and pilgrims. It was during this time that she was favoured with visions and ecstasies from Our Lord who reminded her that there was no feast in honour of His Presence in the Most Holy Eucharist. She urged the Archdeacon of Liège to approve such a feast in the diocese. The Archdeacon became Pope Urban IV and in 1264 extended this glorious solemnity to the Universal Church. St. Juliana led a difficult life and was later forced to flee from her convent. She was canonized in 1869 by Pius IX and further celebrated by Pope John Paul II, who wrote a letter mentioning her on the 750th anniversary of the Feast of Corpus Christi. Her feast day is April 6.

May St. Juliana, St. Norbert, Blessed Pius IX and all the saints of Our Order pray for us, and for our Canonry.

"Your Order is gloriously Eucharistic, and Eucharistically glorious."

- Blessed Pope Pius IX

The religious of Steinfeld are thought to have been the first of St. Norbert's sons to have considered a plan for the translation of his relics to a place where they might once more be properly venerated. Their plan inspired Abbot Lohelius of Strahov to write to Abbot General Despruets in April 1588 who in turn commissioned the Czech abbot to arrange for their translation to Premontre via Strahov. The plan proved fruitless as the Protestant provostof Magdeburg was opposed to the plan; in 1590 he had had the coffin opened whereupon it emitted an extraordinary fragrance that dissuaded him from the idea. Later attempts to translate the relics also failed.

A later abbot of Strahov, Gaspar von Questenberg seized the opportunity to return the relics to Catholic hands in 1625, when the troops of the Imperial Army arrived at the gates of Magdeburg. With the help of the Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand II, the abbot arrived at Magdeburg and took possession of the precious coffin. When the coffin was opened, the body of Our Holy Father was found intact, in a cope of red damask. It is told that the gold ring slipped from the hands of St. Norbert onto the middle finger of von Questenberg and thus gave a heavenly sign of the approval of St. Norbert.

The relics were transferred to Strahov on May 2nd 1627. A wagon drawn by eight white horses brought the body of Our Holy Father into Prague and thence he was borne on the shoulders of eight abbots, accompanied by two hundred coaches of the nobility, a hundred Premonstratensians carrying candles and with the sound of triumphant trumpets. The Chancery of Prague preserved the abjurations of six hundred Protestants who, on the day, or during the octave, of the translation, adjured their heresy. On that occasion the Archbishop of Prague, at the request of the civil and ecclesiastical authorities, proclaimed St. Norbert the Patron and Protector of Bohemia.

(Source: B. Ardura, The Order of Premontre, History and Spirituality) 

 Concerning the "punishment", the Apostle says: "Because through many trials it is fitting that we enter the kingdom of God". And again: "The sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared to the future glory which will be revealed in us".

Concerning the "cause", we read: "It is not the punishment that makes the martyr but the cause". In this regard we read in the Gospel: "Blessed are those who suffer persecution for the sake of justice".

- Life of St. Norbert, Vita B, Chapter V

SS. Evermode (L), Ludolph (centre) and Isfrid (R)

 Almighty God, you made the bishop and martyr Ludolph a zealous and fearless witness of your Church. Through his intercession grant that we may be filled with patience in all the trials of life and be found worthy to belong to you for all eternity. We ask this through Christ our Lord, AMEN.

"So was I speaking and weeping in the most bitter contrition of my heart, when, lo! I heard from a neighbouring house a voice, as of boy or girl, I know not, chanting, and oft repeating, “Take up and read; Take up and read. “ Instantly, my countenance altered, I began to think most intently whether children were wont in any kind of play to sing such words: nor could I remember ever to have heard the like. So checking the torrent of my tears, I arose; interpreting it to be no other than a command from God to open the book, and read the first chapter I should find. For I had heard of Antony, that coming in during the reading of the Gospel, he received the admonition, as if what was being read was spoken to him: Go, sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me: and by such oracle he was forthwith converted unto Thee. Eagerly then I returned to the place where Alypius was sitting; for there had I laid the volume of the Apostle when I arose thence. I seized, opened, and in silence read that section on which my eyes first fell: Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, in concupiscence. No further would I read; nor needed I: for instantly at the end of this sentence, by a light as it were of serenity infused into my heart, all the darkness of doubt vanished away." - The Confessions, Book VIII, Chapter 12

St. Norbert receives the Rule from Our Holy Father Augustine

Deus, qui ineffábili providéntia

beátum Augustínum ab errórum ténébris

ad lucem evangélicæ veritátis adduxísti,

da nobis, quǽsumus, ut, qui eius hódie conversiónem colimus,

eiúsdem précibus ad te actus nostros in mélius reformémus. Amen.

Blessed Dodo, pray for us!

Ioannes Le Paige in Bibliotheca Praemonstratensis Ordinis, (Paris, 1633) lists Abbot Mackerell and his fellow companions with the saints of the Order and though their names were on one of the lists of English martyrs presented to Rome, their cult has not been confirmed.

The Right Rev. Martin Geudens, established the Norbertines in Manchester was named Titular Abbot of Barlings, 7 May, 1898, and blessed 17 September, of the same year.

Artist's impression of the abbey

Source: 'Houses of Premonstratensian canons: The abbey of Barlings', A History of the County of Lincoln: Volume 2 (1906), pp. 202-205.

Evermode was born in Belgium around the beginning of the twelfth century. Practically nothing is known of his youth. When Evermode was about twenty years old, St. Norbert came to the city of Cambray to preach at the invitation of Bishop Burchard. Evermode happened to hear Norbert speak and was moved immediately to join him. Norbert took him back to the newly founded community in Prémontré where Evermode became one of his first disciples. From this day forward Evermode accompanied Norbert on all of his journeys, soon becoming the closest friend and "beloved disciple" of the wandering preacher. Evermode was by Norbert's side at all of the key moments of his life as founder and archbishop. On June 6, 1134, he was present at the bedside of Norbert as he imparted his farewell blessing and died. Evermode was stricken keenly by the death of Norbert. In the years that followed, he held several positions of leadership. From 1134 to 1138 he was the provost of the Abbey of Gottesgnaden in Saxony, and, from 1138 to 1154 provost of St. Mary's in Magdeburg. In the year 1154 Evermode was appointed the first bishop of the newly founded diocese of Ratzeburg. A cathedral chapter of thirteen Norbertines surrounded Evermode with the community life he had come to cherish. As bishop he was known above all else for his apostolic zeal for the conversion of the pagan peoples of the north, most notably the Wends. As such the Premonstratensians are the only religious order to have converted an entire nation. He is often referred to as the "Apostle of the Wends" and was successful in both Christianizing and civilizing them where many had failed before. Evermode was also famed for his keen sense of justice. When the powerful Count Henry of Ratzeburg continued to mistreat some prisoners despite Evermode's pleading to treat them fairly, he responded with a miracle. When the prisoners were admitted to the cathedral for the Mass of Easter, as was the custom, Evermode sprinkled the newly blessed Easter water on their chains, and the chains broke, setting the prisoners free. Evermode died as bishop of Ratzeburg on February 17, 1178. He is pictured with the regalia of a bishop, wiping away the tears of grief which he shed over the death of his beloved friend, St. Norbert.

O Lord our God, you blessed St. Evermode with the gift of faithfulness and made him a zealous bishop of your church. Through his intercession grant that we may persevere to the end in good works and ever be filled with zeal for the salvation of souls. May St. Evermode keep us ever faithful to the spirit of St. Norbert. We ask this through Christ our Lord, AMEN.

(from premontre.org)

Frederick Feikone was the son of a poor widow from Hallum in Friesland. His priestly vocation was already noticed in his early years and his pastor gave him his first Latin instructions. He studied the liberal arts and the Holy Scriptures at Münster. Frederick had a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Evangelist, and St. Cecilia. Returning from Münster, he became a teacher and was ordained a priest when he was old enough. He was appointed assistant priest to the pastor of Hallum whom he later succeeded. Frederick wished to build a hospital and asked bishop Godfrey of Utrecht (1156-1177) for permission to establish a monastery of canons after the death of his mother. Thereafter he went to the Norbertine abbey of Mariënweerd to learn as novice about the monastic life. Afterwards he wandered through cities and villages to gather companions. In 1163 he built a monastery church dedicated to the Blessed Mother: “Mariëngaarde.” At first the priests and nuns lived in the same establishment but soon the sisters moved to Bethlehem. He then went to Steinfeld in order to join the foundation to the Norbertine Order. Frederick remained abbot, pastor of Hallum, and rector of Bethlehem all at the same time. A seminary for educating priests was attached to the abbey and became famous in a short time.
Frederick became ill while at the Norbertine convent of Bethlehem and returned to Hallum. In the church in which he had celebrated his first Mass he also celebrated his last. After the Mass he returned to the abbey to die. He said to his confreres, “Pray for me, because I could not care for the poor as much as I wished since the monastery was so poor.” He urged them to follow the Rule and assured them that he would never abandon his confreres as long as they would remain faithful. He died on March 3, 1175. So many miracles occurred at his grave that the church of Mariëngaarde became a much-visited pilgrimage site. In 1614, during the rule of the Calvinists in Friesland, Abbot Nicolas Chamart took his relics to Bonne-Espérance where they were entombed in the abbey church in 1616. During the French Revolution they were taken to Vellereille, and in 1938, during Abbot Bouvens’ term, to Leffe in Dinant. Pope Benedict XIII approved Frederick’s cult on January 22/March 8, 1728. His feast was transferred from the day of his death since this date often fell in the season of Lent.

Today our calender commemorates Saint Godfrey of Cappenberg who was born into the wealth and prestige of the counts of Cappenberg. In his early adulthood he played an active role in supporting the cause of the Roman Pontiff against Emperor Henry IV. In 1121 he encountered St. Norbert at Cologne and was so struck by his lifestyle and preaching that he immediately made plans to give away all his possessions and enter the infant Norbertine Order. Together with his brother Otto and his wife Judith, he handed over Cappenberg Castle to St. Norbert on May 31, 1122, thus establishing the first foundation of the Order in Germany. Both Otto and Judith followed Godfrey's example and embraced the religious life of the new Order. The further donation of his estates at Varlar and Ilbenstadt to St. Norbert caused an uproar among the local nobility who viewed it as a threat to their established aristocracy. Under the leadership of Godfrey's hostile father-in-law, Frederick of Arnsberg, an unsuccessful military assault was made upon the new monastery at Cappenberg. Through all of these trials Godfrey remained steadfast in his desire to be a Norbertine. When things calmed down, Godfrey received the habit from the hand of St. Norbert. He especially loved to care for the poor and sick in the hospital attached to the abbey. St. Norbert wanted to have him by his side at Magdeburg, but Godfrey felt out of place in the noisy northern metropolis and was granted permission to return to Cappenberg. It was on his way back to Mt. Cappenberg that Godfrey fell sick at Ilbenstadt. Surrounded by his brethren and his brother Otto, he made peace with them all: "My brothers, through love for the Order, through zeal for the glory of God, I have occasionally reprimanded some of you a bit too harshly. I beg pardon from you now." Moments later, seeing a vision of angels, Godfrey exclaimed, "How beautiful! How beautiful! The messengers of my Creator and God have finally come!" With that he fell asleep in the Lord. It was January 13, 1127. He is pictured with the crown of nobility which he rejected for the sake of Christ's kingdom, with the skull of penitence recalling his severe trials and with one of the poorest of the poor whom he loved to serve so much.

We are pleased to make available this mini-dictionaryof Norbertine Saints and Blesseds.

"I am Augustine, Bishop of Hippo; behold here the rule which I have written; if your fellow-brethren, my sons, shall have observed it well, they shall stand without fear in the presence of Christ on the terrible day of the last judgment"

- Our Holy Father Augustine gives the Rule to St. Norbert 

November 13th is the Feast of All the Saints of the Order of Prémontré and All the Saints of Canons Regular.

As Canons Regular, following the Rule of Our Holy Father Augustine, the Premonstratensians belong to the same family of canons regular that include the Canons Regular of the Lateran, the Canons Regular of St. Augustine, the Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception, the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross, the Canons Regular of the Swiss Congregation of St. Maurice and The Congregation of SS. Nicholas and Bernard of Mont Joux amongst others. More recent foundations have increased the number of communities of canons regular following the Augustinian Rule, such as the Canons Regular of the Mother of God.

On 26 October the calendar of our Order commemorates St. Gilbert († 1152). Gilbert was a crusader knight who had survived the Second Crusade and upon his return to Europe resolved to consecrate his life to the service of God. He immediately distributed much of his personal wealth to the poor and needy and thence financed the construction of an abbey for Norbertine nuns. His wife Petronilla and his daughter Pontia both entered this abbey and Gilbert himself entered the Order at our abbey of Dilo. He later built the abbey of Neuffontaines in 1150 and became its first abbot, overseeing the construction of an infirmary that became famed for the miracles wrought there. Gilbert personally ministered to the sick who came to abbey for physical and spiritual healing and as a sign of his humility was buried in the part of the abbey cemetery reserved for the sick who died there. When his cult grew, his body was moved into the abbey and today's feast marks the translation of his relics. Neuffontaintes abbey was suppressed in 1790, following certain Gallacian reforms, and his relics translated to a parish church for safekeeping. They were never found again.

St. Gilbert, pray for us!

"O Priest, who are you?

You are not yourself because you are God.

You are not of yourself because you are the servant and minister of Christ. You are not your own because you are the spouse of the Church.

You are not yourself because you are the mediator between God and man. You are not from yourself because you are nothing.

What then are you?

Nothing and everything.

O Priest! Take care lest what was said to Christ on the cross be said to you:

'He saved others, himself he cannot save!'"

  On 20th October the calendar of the Order marks the memoria of Blessed James Kern. James was a canon and priest of the Norbertine Abbey in Geras, Austria. He had been training at a diocesan seminary at the outbreak of the First World War when he was drafted into the Army. during his time of active service Blessed James was badly wounded and his afflictions would cause his continuing physical pain throughout his life. Despite these sufferings James returned to the seminary at the end of the War and proceeded with his studies. At the same time a Norbertine canon, Bogumil Zahradnik had become a leader of the schismatical Czech National Church. James was moved to offer himself to the Norbertine Order in atonement for the sins of this priest and he was duly accepted as a novice at Geras. ordained priest in 1922 James continued to bear his pains with great courage and determination, all without a word of complaint. He entered into his priestly ministry with great enthusiasm, especially in hearing his confession and his work with young people. After many struggles, physical and spiritual, James went to his eternal reward on October 20th 1924. He was beatified by John Paul II on June 21st 1998.

For more information on Blessed James please read Herman Joseph Weidinger's book, available here.