Mural Booklet

ST. NORBERT ABBEY
EST. AD 1121
Mural Guide

ST. NORBERT ABBEY
MURAL GUIDE
CREDITS
01
THE LIFE OF
Norbert of Xanten

“The most original exponent of the apostolic
life in the early 12 th century was Norbert
of Xanten.”
– CHRISTOPHER BROOKE, The Age of the Cloister
“Norbert of Xanten lived in the late 11th and early 12th centuries,
and he was an early and headstrong Church reformer. He was
also a nobleman, a courtier, a priest, a peacemaker, and an
exemplar of the apostolic way of life.
In addition, in the remote woods of northeast France, Norbert
would found one of the great clerical orders of the Church —
one that has endured despite wars, plagues, famines, the Protestant
Reformation, Napoleonic suppression, Nazism, fascism,
communism and Church politics, through nine long centuries to
our present time.”
– THOMAS KUNKEL
Man on Fire: The Life and Spirit of Norbert of Xanten
The revised texts of the Life of
Norbert of Xanten are edited from
the writings of Matthew Smith,
O. Praem., the former prior of St.
Norbert Priory, Fieldside, Crowle
England, written in 1922.
The visual graphics depicting
significant events from the life of
Saint Norbert are by Laura Treiche.
The background are from the 17th
century “Life of St. Norbert” by
Corneille Galle. The foreground
portraits are details from the
stained glass windows of Norbert’s
life in the abbot’s chapel of St.
Norbert Abbey by Francis Deck,
designer for the Emil Frei Associates,
Inc. of St. Louis, MO.
STEPHEN ROSSEY, O. PRAEM.
2019

MURAL 01 CONVERSION 03
“Like Paul of Tarsus struck by God, Norbert saw
the blinding light: ‘Seek after peace, forsake it
not,’ was God’s own call to him.”

CONVERSION
During the springtime of 1115, one delightfully calm, mild sunlit day,
a horseman, accompanied by an attendant, was seen riding into the
country towards Freden. The horseman was no stranger; he was
Norbert, a beloved and admired aristocrat. He cantered along for some
distance when dark clouds appeared and gradually obscured the light.
With them came a wind, which grew in strength and rapidity.
Dust arose and swept across the land; the boughs of trees bent and detached
twigs chased each other over the ground. Animals in the fields
uttered cries of dread and birds sought shelter in the thickest hedges.
The horse that Norbert rode was equally terror- stricken. The alarmed
attendant could restrain himself no longer, and in anguish of soul he
exclaimed: “Sir Norbert, where are you going? What are you doing?
Return at once: do you not recognize that the hand of God lies heavily
upon you?”
Suddenly a flash of lightning
split the sky; its brightness
dispelled the darkness and, as
the thunder rolled and shook
both the heavens and the earth,
the lightning flash plowed the
soil under the feet of Norbert’s
horse, which threw its rider and
bolted away. Prostrate on the
ground Norbert lay unconscious.
The storm ceased and the
faithful attendant patiently
awaited his master’s recovery.
As Norbert returned to
consciousness, his thoughts
turned to God: he recognized his
unfaithfulness to grace and from
the depths of his soul cried out:
“Lord what will you have me
do?” His appeal was not in vain
for he recognized the answer:
“Cease from evil and do good”
Yes, that he would do, and would
do from then on.

MURAL 02 CANON REGULAR 05
“From Virgin Mary, Queen on high, Norbert
claimed the yoke of Christ. With snow-white
garb, which she bestowed, canonical life was duly
embraced.”

CANON REGULAR
Pope Calixtus II recognized that Norbert could do much good by his
itinerant preaching but he considered that greater good would be done
by founding a religious order, whose members would inherit his apostolic
spirit and zeal. In this order the active and contemplative life
could be merged.
Together Norbert and Bishop
Bartholomew of Laon visited
several places in the diocese for
the purpose of selecting
suitable ground on which to
erect a monastery. None of them
had any attraction for Norbert
until they arrived at the valley
of Prémontré, which was situated
in the forest near Couey.
In an open space stood a chapel
dedicated to St. John the
Baptist. Norbert expressed a
wish to spend the night there in
prayer. The following morning,
Norbert stated that not only was
it the place of God’s choice, but
that in a vision, he had seen a
body of men clothed in white.
After returning to Laon, Norbert
spoke of his ideas, which
resulted in seven of his
followers offering themselves
as disciples. As soon as the
necessary arrangements were
made, Norbert and his followers
received the white habit from
the hands of the Bishop, which
tradition held was indicated to
St. Norbert in a vision by the
Virgin Mary. This reception of
the habit took place in the early
part of 1120.
Saint Norbert himself fostered
devotion to Mary in his disciples
and among other things wished
them to consider the color of
their habit an external mark of
their internal piety.

MURAL 03
TEACHER of DISCIPLINE
07
“From Saint Augustine’s sacred pen; Norbert took
his Rule of Life; that ‘with one mind and heart
in God’ in love we might be bound.”

TEACHER OF DISCIPLINE
The goal St. Norbert had in mind in instituting his order was to unite
to the practices of piety and penance with the duties of the care of
souls. Of both forms of religious life, the contemplative and the
active, Norbert was an exemplary model. He spent hours in prayer and
a considerable amount of time ministering to the needs of others. His
practice of penance was severe beyond expression. To these acts of
personal sanctification he joined the work of an apostolic life.
Norbert’s mode of life at Prémontré gave the impression that he was
less the founder of an order than one wishful to bring the canonical
order of life back to its primitive fervor. He urged that the shepherds
of souls should labor at their personal sanctification, thus securing for
themselves the esteem so necessary for the success of their labors, as
well as the fulfillment of the duties of their sacred ministry. He felt
that these goals could best be fulfilled by clerics living together in
common, under a common rule, and according to the evangelical vows
of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
The rule of St. Augustine
answered admirably to Norbert’s
requirements. In answer to the
prayers of his brethren, St. Augustine
appeared to him. Extending
his right hand, he offered a
copy of his rule and said:
“I am Augustine, Bishop of
Hippo, this is the rule I have
written. If your brethren fight
the good fight under its guidance,
they will be able to appear
without fear at the tribunal of
divine justice on the last day.”

MURAL 04 DEFENDER of the EUCHARIST 09
“Refuting Tanchelm’s heretical ways, Christ’s
Real Presence re-affirming: ‘Where true illumination
finds a home, there is no place for error.’”

DEFENDER OF THE EUCHARIST
The zeal exercised by Norbert in defending and strengthening the
doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist was
strenuously tested in the north of Belgium about the year 1124. The
heretic Tanchelm had caused spiritual desolation in Antwerp and the
surrounding area by his denunciation of the Church, the priesthood
and the sacraments. Though he had died a tragic death, his false
doctrines still lived on and continued to spread their deadly poison.
Bishop Burchard of Cambrai had employed various means to overcome
the heresy, but his many attempts had met stiff resistance.
In his bewilderment Burchard
remembered Norbert, appealed
to him, and Norbert quickly
responded to the invitation.
Norbert carefully selected several
of his brethren distinguished by
their piety, zeal, and erudition
and with them set out for
Antwerp. They gained the
admiration of the people.
Their frequent sermons and instructions
were listened to attentively
and the people of Antwerp
soon realized they had been deceived.
The heretical doctrines of
Tanchelm were repudiated and the
people returned to the practice of
their Catholic faith. In recognition
of the service he had rendered,
the people acclaimed Norbert the
“Apostle of Antwerp,” a title he
holds to this day.

MURAL 05 ARCHBISHOP of MAGDEBURG 11
“Becoming primate of Magdeburg, King Lothair
being present; the Gospel message Norbert
spread to distant unchurched lands.”

ARCHBISHOP OF MAGDEBURG
A gathering of importance, known as a “Diet,” took place at Speyer on
the Rhine River in July of 1126. Norbert was there and at the request
of the Emperor Lothair and the clergy, he preached at the cathedral.
Among those present were delegates from the town of Magdeburg, an
episcopal city on the Elbe River in Germany, which had been without a
bishop for two years. These delegates were greatly impressed by
Norbert’s preaching and general manner.
The impression he made was that he undoubtedly was a desirable
candidate for the vacant See. This motion was unanimously
entertained, but Norbert strongly opposed the suggestion. He alleged
his unworthiness, the necessity of his presence at Prémontré. However,
the authority of the Papal Legate and of the Emperor prevailed and he
submitted to their wish as the choice of God. On the one hand sorrow
seized his heart, on the other, his desire to do God’s will. In humility
he bowed his head and without murmur, accepted the divine decree.
Norbert’s entry into Magdeburg
took place on July 18, 1126. The
event was marked with great
enthusiasm. The renown of his
sanctity, his eloquence, and his
miracles had reached Magdeburg
so that he was highly esteemed
by the people.
They vied with each other in
manifesting their appreciation and
all united in giving a full-hearted
welcome. Eight days later, on July
25th, the feast of St. James the
Apostle, Norbert was consecrated
Archbishop of Magdeburg.

MURAL 06 EXEMPLAR of PEACE and CONCORD 13
“Reforming life for clerics and monks, both Norbert
and Bernard succeeded; for those whose God’s
Spirit inspires, success is skillfully imparted.”

EXEMPLAR OF PEACE AND CONCORD
Both Bernard and Norbert worked hard for the reform of the Church
and religious life. Bernard of Clairvaux and the Cistercians were
revolutionizing the monastic world with a stern return to the
primitive Rule of Benedict, and Norbert of Xanten was leading a
movement to improve the lives of the parish clergy. With Bernard
concentrating on the monks and Norbert emphasizing the parish clergy,
the times witnessed a resurgence of the Christian spirit, which was
beneficial to the Church and world alike.
Bernard wrote of his time spent in Norbert’s company, “I was honored
in being permitted to drink in words from his mouth, as it were from
a sweet-toned flute.” Norbert also held Bernard in high esteem and the
life of the Cistercians had a great influence on Prémontré. As evidence
of his high regard for Norbert’s order, St. Bernard wrote to the Queen
of Jerusalem in 1142:
“It would be as unnecessary as
presumptuous, perhaps, for me to
say much in commendation of these
brethren of Prémontré, for they so
commend themselves by their own
merit that they have no need to be
commended by another. They will
be found, if I mistake not, to be
men of wisdom, fervent in spirit,
patient in tribulation, powerful in
word and work.
They have put on the whole armor of
God and have girded themselves with
the sword of the Spirit, which is the
Word of God, not against flesh and
blood, but against spiritual wickedness
in high places.”

MURAL 07 DEFENDER of the TRUE FAITH 15
“Challenging antipope Anacletus, Pope Innocent’s
papacy confirming; Norbert and Bernard
re-established the Church’s longed-for unity.”

DEFENDER OF THE TRUE FAITH
On February 14, 1130, Pope Honorius II died, and on the following day,
Cardinal Gregory was canonically elected pope and chose the name of
Innocent II. However, the ambitious Cardinal Peter de Leone, aided and
abetted by two other Cardinals, secured an illicit papal election taking
the title of Anacletus II.
Pope Innocent II held a council at Liege on March 22, 1131, at which
steps were undertaken in order to suppress the schismatic election.
Norbert strongly upheld the rights of the legitimate pope. In so doing
he was summoned to appear before Anacletus, the antipope; Norbert
ignored the summons. The antipope issued a bull of excommunication
against him in which injurious remarks were hurled at the archbishop.
Far from injuring his good reputation, the language of the antipope
stands as a lasting proof of Norbert’s loyalty to the heir of St. Peter.
During this troublesome time
in the church Norbert acted as
Councilor to the Emperor
Lothaire. Acting on the
Archbishop’s advice, Lothaire
embraced the cause of the
rightful pope and undertook a
trip to Rome. The reign of
Anacletus came to an end;
Pope Innocent II entered Rome in
triumph and the schism crumbled
away. The pope addressed a letter
to Norbert, expressing his admiration
and gratitude towards both
the archbishop and Saint Bernard,
whom he considered had been
instruments in the hands of God
to bring about his return to Rome.

MURAL 0 8 CANONIZATION 17
“Rightly does the lover of peace, the merited crown
accomplish; for he who honored the things of earth
now honors those of Heaven.”

CANONIZATION
Norbert’s trip to Rome, so full of anxiety and fatigue, undermined
Norbert’s health. Though reasonably in the prime of life (he was
scarcely 54 years old) he felt that he had well nigh run his allotted course.
He fell ill. Holy Thursday was near at hand, but with renewed energy, he
rose from his sick bed and consecrated the holy oils. In a similar way, he
rose on Easter Sunday to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass. His failing
strength was severely tested. When the Mass was ended he returned again
to bed. His patience and resignation edified those who visited him and
they treasured his words of advice and encouragement.
Norbert lived until the seventh week of Easter. Blessing those assembled
around his bed he remitted his soul to the hands of God. He died
the night between the 5th and 6th of June 1134, in the fifth year of the
Pontificate of Pope Innocent II, the ninth of the reign of Emperor
Lothair and the eighth of his own episcopacy.
Though the course of his life was
short, it was full of fruitful works.
So full, that no one person can
possibly do justice to an account
of all the good he did.
The funeral of the archbishop took
place on June 11th. The emperor
decided that he should be buried
in the church of St. Mary,
attached to the Premonstratensian
monastery at Magdeburg.
.
Pope Gregory XIII canonized
Norbert a saint in 1582. After the
Protestant Reformation his bodily
remains were transferred to
Norbertine Abbey of Strahof in
Prague in the Czech Republic in
1627, where they remain today.

MURAL 09 NORBERT’S VISION at PRÉMONTRÉ 19
“In lone Prémontré’s valley praying, St. Norbert
the crucified Christ appearing: ‘Here is the place
I’ll make our home, a place foreshown by God.’”

NORBERT’S VISION AT PRÉMONTRÉ
Bartholomew de Vir, the bishop of Laon and cousin of Pope Calixtus II,
was most anxious that Norbert should remain in his diocese. The
Holy Father recognized that Norbert could do much good by his
itinerant preaching, but he considered that greater good would be
done by his founding a religious order. Time would be necessary to
come to a decision, and if an order was to be founded, a suitable place
would have to be acquired and the necessary aspirants to the order
gathered together.
Together they visited several places in the diocese for the purpose of
selecting suitable ground on which to erect a monastery. None of them
had any attraction for Norbert until they arrived at the valley of
Prémontré. In an open space stood a chapel dedicated to St. John the
Baptist. Norbert expressed a wish to spend the night there in prayer.
When they met the following morning, Norbert stated that not only was
it the place of God’s choice, but that in a vision, he had seen a body
of men clothed in white. They carried a silver cross, candlesticks and
thuribles and sang while they walked round the valley. The Bishop was
greatly surprised at Norbert’s choice. Premontre was anything but a
desirable spot in which to live, however he was quite prepared to assist
Norbert in every possible way.
Constitutions were drawn up for the canonical organization of this
newly created family and the religious profession took place on
Christmas Day, 1121, thus establishing that day as the foundation of
the Order of Prémontré.

NOTES 21

22
NOTES