Mural Booklet

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.