Mural Booklet

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.”