St. Godfrey 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.

St Gerlac, who died in 1170, had led the life of wild and licentious soldier – including a spell as a highwayman. After the death of his wife he experienced a deep interior conversion. Giving up his former ways and as penance for his past sins he went on pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem. He also adopted a rule of life quite different from his former ways. Gerlac was in Rome in 1151 when Pope Eugenius provided him with the penance of seven years in service at Jerusalem. At Jerusalem he worked in the pilgrim hospitals and helping the poor and sick of that city. When he returned to Rome Pope Adrian IV asked him to consider entering some of the existing religious orders, but Gerlac found them incompatible with his vocation. The Pope (who had been educated by Premonstratensians) therefore asked Gerlac to return to his native Holland and live out his vocation as a hermit, in a habit of a Premonstratensians. Gerlac therefore took to living in seclusion from the world and devoting his time to God, attending daily Mass in Maastricht each day. St. Gerlac also received a vision of St. Hildegard. For his dwelling he had hollowed out an oak tree in which to live, but when fame of his holiness and miracles invoked the jealousy of local canons it was cut down by the local bishop. However the bishop soon realised he had been tricked and being convinced to Gerlac’s holiness placed him under his own protection, as well as the guidance of the abbot of Rolduc. Gerlac’s later years were marked by spiritual trials as well as his growing fame as a worker of miracles. As he lay dying the local clergy were unable, or refused, to bring him the Last Sacraments, however a figure, believed to be St. Servatius, appeared and the saint died fortified with all the rites of the Church. In 1172 a Premonstratensian abbey was built at Houtherm where St. Gerlac had died and became a great centre of pilgrimage. Though the monastery was dissolved the parish church remains a centre of pilgrimage.

The Relics of St. Gerlac

Gerlace, splendor Ordinis,
Miraculis clarissime,
Tuo potenti nomini
Hymni tributum solvimus.

Tibi, sitis quem concremat,
Ministrat unda poculum;
Istius haustu sanitas
Est restituta pluribus.

Hanc, imminente tempore,
Mors Christi quo recolitur
Ter in merum vis Numinis
Convertit, almam reddidit.

Hanc prosequuntur maximo
Honore Falcoburgii,
Quibus per ipsam contigit
Certare Canae laudibus.

Felix in arce siderum,
Tuos clientes adjuva,
Ut, te rogante, singuli
Sedes supernas occupent.

Deo Patri sit Gloria,
Ejusque soli Filio,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito,
Et nunc, et in perpetuum.
Amen.

The liturgical feast of the Holy Name dates back to 1530 when Pope Clement V approved an office of the Triumph of the Holy Name for the Franciscans, this was later extended to the universal Church in 1721 by Pope Innocent XIII.

St Bernardine of Siena OFM

The Holy Father did this because of St Bernadine of Siena OFM, a fourteenth century Franciscan missionary and reformer of the order whose devotion and zeal for the Holy Name was legendary.

He spent most of his life travelling around Italy preaching and administering the sacraments, so much so that no corner of the country was untouched by his words.

St Bernardine used the Holy Name to overcome the everyday warfare of Italian city-states, he used this “name that is above every name” (Phil 2:9) to raise people’s minds from their rivalries and jealousies to think of their own salvation, and their saviour.

St Bernadine said that,

[T]his name must be proclaimed, that it may shine out and never be suppressed…When a fire is lit to clear a field, it burns off all the dry and useless weeds and thorns. When the sun rises and darkness is dispelled, robbers, night-prowlers and burglars hide away.

This is the power of the Holy Name in a beautiful image by St Bernadine. We must remember that to the Jews of the old covenant a name was highly important, giving someone your name gave them a part of you and naming someone (or something else) put you in a particular relationship with that person.

So what of the Holy Name of Jesus?

Woodcut image of the Holy Name being adored by man and angel, and crushing satan.

Traditionally the month of January is given over to worship of the Holy Name and meditation on the child Jesus, so perhaps we can take this opportunity to think of our reverence for the name of our Lord.

St Paul tells us that, “That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.” (Phil 2:10), and St Peter tells us (Acts 4:12), “For there is no other Name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved”.

Do we take the Holy Name in vain? Using it to insult, to swear, to joke, to ridicule others? Do we make any sign of devotion when we hear the Holy Name of our Lord spoken in public; the angels prostrate and the demons flee at the name of our Lord, might we bow our heads momentarily? When we hear someone using the Holy Name inappropriately what reparation do we do? There are many traditional practices, such as saying “Blessed be the name of the Lord now and forever” (even under your breath) when you hear someone using the Holy Name inappropriately. Our Lord died for us, might we offer some reparation to Him for those who insult His Holy Name?

IHS Monogram from the Gesu, Rome

When we venerate and worship the Holy Name we worship our Lord,

The psalmist exhorts [the Church] to [sing], as he says: Sing to the Lord, and bless his name, proclaim his salvation day after day. And this salvation is Jesus, her saviour.

If you get a chance consider saying the litany of the Most Holy Name in reparation for all those who insult our Lord.

Today also several members of our community will be attending Mass for the patronal feast of one of our parishes in Chelmsford dedicated to the Holy Name, so please keep our apostolate and the parishes we care for in your prayers!

MMXII

2012

1626 years since the conversion of Our Holy Father Augustine

1582 years since the death of Our Holy Father Augustine

932 years since the birth of Our Holy Father Norbert

897 years since the conversion of Our Holy Father Norbert

892 years since the first meeting between Our Holy Father Norbert and St. Evermode

891 years since the foundation of our Order at Prémontré

878 years since the death of Our Holy Father Norbert

869 years since the foundation of our Order in Britain

860 years since the death of St. Gilbert

850 years since the entrance of St. Hermann Joseph in Steinfeld

842 years since the birth of Blessed Hroznata

782 years since the death of St. Siard

762 years since the death of St. Ludolph

742 years since Bl. Gertrude established the feast of Corpus Christi at Altenberg

476 years since the suppression of our houses in England under Henry VIII

442 years since the martyrdom of SS. Adrian and James at Gorcum

432 years since the arrest and death of Servant of God James O’Mulkerin

430 years since the approbation of the cult of St. Norbert

385 years since the translation of the relics of Our Holy Father Norbert to Strahov

230 years since the ordination to the priesthood of Servant of God Peter-Adrian Toulorge (in this year of his beatification)

222 years since the closure of Prémontré

140 years since the return of our Order to England

90 years since the ordination of Blessed James Kern

8 years since the foundation of our canonry

4 years since the foundation of our house in Chelmsford

(much of this information supplied by the General Postulator – for a full list of anniversaries see: http://postulatio.info/en/jubilaeen/en-2008-2012.pdf)

Our Holy Father Norbert and the early saints of the Order adore the Christ Child (from a painting in the chapter house of the abbey of Averbode)

“Indeed many religious men, both bishops and abbots, had advised him in various ways, one suggesting the eremitic life, another that of an anchorite, still another to take up the lifestyle of the Cistercians. But Norbert, whose work and plans depended on heaven, entrusted his foundation neither to himself nor to others but rather to Him who is the beginning of all things. He pondered these many things in his heart but he and those who wished to live with him had been dedicated since their youth, Norbert ordered that the rule be accepted which the Blessed Augustine had established for his followers. The apostolic life which he had undertaken by his preaching he now hoped to live. He had heard that this way of life was ordained and renewed by this same blessed man after the apostles. By the profession of this rule then, on Christmas Day at Prémontré, one by one they voluntarily enrolled themselves into that city of blessed eternity.” Life of St. Norbert (Vita A)

The canons of St. Philip’s Priory, Chelmsford wish all our friends, relatives and benefactors a very happy and holy Christmas

Our Order came into being on this feast day, December 25, 1121.  Therefore there are still ten years until the great 900^th anniversary of our existence.  . . From this feast of the Incarnation we receive anew each year the task to do as God did, simply become man, to live humanly and fraternally, to work as brothers and sisters.  What does it actually mean concretely to become man for us men, for us as Premonstratensians?  With St. Norbert, who signed his profession formula, so to speak, at the crèche, it is simply to look at this divine child, so that this divine birth may take place in us, in our heart, that we grown more and more into his love, that we incorporate ourselves into him, as we fulfill it really-symbolically in daily communion.  As we receive and accept him we are changed into him.  This becoming like him, this comparing ourselves to him, the only true man, is the mystery of the Incarnation.  And so I beseech for all our communities a growth and ripening in being and becoming human, an increase in fraternity and passion for people, a sacrificing for our holy service in the community and outside of it. – from the Christmas letter of our Abbot General

For the chant itself, please see this previous posting.

The Roman Rite begins the Great Antiphons on the 17th, but we sing the first, “O Sapientia,” on 16th, because we sing an extra Antiphon, “O Virgo Virginum” in honour of Our Blessed Lady on the 23rd. This was a common medieval practice that our Order maintains (it was also sung in the Sarum Use, for example, although the other medieval variant on the Roman Rite, “O Gabriel,” is not included in our Breviary).

It is the tradition in our Canonry to decorate the Christmas Tree on this day, reminding us that Christmas is getting ever closer! This external beautifying of our home reminds us that some internal cleaning and decorating also needs to happen – in our hearts. Confession, Meditation and some silent time in prayer are a good way to prepare for the coming of our Saviour at Christmas. He, Emmanuel, is coming to abide with us; so if he is to stay, he needs to find the manger of our souls warm and tidy! Let us ask Our Lady, whom we contemplate now in the last days of her pregnancy, to help us to welcome the Saviour as best as we can.

Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Genitrix
Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.

As Winter sets in, we offer you a couple of glorious photo-graphs to warm the heart.

This is the late great Abbot Pennings O.Praem., who was Abbot of St Norbert Abbey, De Pere, Wisconsin. He is pictured here in his winter cappa magna, looking not only warm but very splendid too.

Abbot Pennings (1861-1955) had a High School named after him, and was a much loved Abbot. He had a great devotion to Saint Joseph, and died at the ripe old age of 93, whispering on his death bed, “Jesus, Mary, Joseph.”

As we admire his photo-graphs, let us remember his soul in our prayers.

R.I.P.

“Let us celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary: let us adore her Son, Christ the Lord.” (Matins: Invitatory respond)

St. Norbert receiving the habit from Our Lady Immaculate, Philips de Champagne, Park Abbey (Leuven), detail

Our Holy Father Saint Norbert (ca. 1080 – 1134) had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and in particular to her Immaculate Conception, over 800 years before the eventual proclamation of the dogma by Pope Pius IX in 1854.

Several writers attest that he founded the Order of Prémontré in honour of the Immaculate Conception, which is confirmed by the “common and unanimous tradition of our Order”. Guerric, the pious disciple of St Bernard, for example, says that St Norbert founded his Congregation “in order to preach to the world of his time two particular mysteries, namely the Sacrament of the Eucharist and the Immaculate Conception.”

Johannes B. Keyl o.praem. writes that St Norbert is understood to have written a Little Marian Office in honour of the Immaculate Conception which has not, alas, survived. However, one antiphon written by St Norbert has survived, and was inserted into the Premonstratensian Breviary. It is still the proper antiphon for the Nunc Dimittis for Compline of today’s feast:

“Ave Virgo quae Spiritu Sancto praeservante de tanto primi parentis peccato triumphasti innoxia!“  

This is what St Norbert has to say of devotion to Our Lady among his canons:

“Sanctissimae Deiparae Virginis non est filius, qui ei tota anima non servit. Intentio hujus Matris pulchrae dilectionis nos decorantis candida veste, symbolo puritatis, non alia fuit, quam ut vera devotione ad suam immaculatam conceptionem indueremur. Igitur si hoc non accenderis amore, si in moribus istam non assequeris virgineam castitatem, veste et nomine tantum es Canonicus Praemonstratensis.”

~

“He is not a true son of the Most Holy Mother of God who does not serve her with his whole heart. The intention of this Mother of Fair Love in conferring upon us the white habit, the symbol of purity, was none other than that we might be clothed with a true devotion to her immaculate conception. If, therefore, you are not set aflame with this love, or do not strive to immitate in your own life her virginal chastity, you are a Premonstratensian Canon in name and vesture alone.”

O Mary conceived without original sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

]]> http://norbertinevocations.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/immaculate-conception/feed/ 0 stephanusopraem image http://norbertinevocations.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/advent_2011/ http://norbertinevocations.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/advent_2011/#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:30:54 +0000 piusdcollins http://norbertinevocations.wordpress.com/?p=1550 Continue reading →]]>

Advent is a time of waiting and preparation.

Yesterday was the First Sunday of Advent, and a new beginning to the Church’s liturgical year; out with the green and in with purple! Yet the nature and feel of Advent seems hard to grasp for most Catholics. We know that the purple represents penance, but we also know that Advent isn’t as penitential as Lent. The nearer we get to Christmas the harder and harder it becomes to see Advent as a time of preparation, and the more we might wait for Christmas to come and go so we can relax!

In the Church’s wisdom, however, she knows that the spiritual edification, the grace, we receive from any liturgical season or festival can depend on how well we prepare. Christmas is the feast of the Incarnation: God becoming man for our salvation. It’s not that the Church is trying to dampen our fun, but rather that she knows human nature well and is always focusing our attention on the supernatural.

There is much that can be said, but it seems best to leave it to someone else. The second reading in the Office of Readings this morning was from the great St Charles Borromeo, hero of the counter-reformation, he sheds much light on what Advent should mean to us all.

Beloved, now is the acceptable time spoken of by the Spirit, the day of salvation, peace and reconciliation: the great season of Advent. This is the time eagerly awaited by the patriarchs and prophets, the time that holy Simeon rejoiced at last to see. This is the season that the Church has always celebrated with special solemnity. We too should always observe it with faith and love, offering praise and thanksgiving to the Father for the mercy and love he has shown us in this mystery. In his infinite love for us, though we were sinners, he sent his only Son to free us from the tyranny of Satan, to summon us to heaven, to welcome us into its innermost recesses, to show us truth itself, to train us in right conduct, to plant within us the seeds of virtue, to enrich us with the treasures of his grace, and to make us children of God and heirs of eternal life.

Each year, as the Church recalls this mystery, she urges us to renew the memory of the great love God has shown us. This holy season teaches us that Christ’s coming was not only for the benefit of his contemporaries; his power has still to be communicated to us all. We shall share his power, if, through holy faith and the sacraments, we willingly accept the grace Christ earned for us, and live by that grace and in obedience to Christ.

The Church asks us to understand that Christ, who came once in the flesh, is prepared to come again. When we remove all obstacles to his presence he will come, at any hour and moment, to dwell spiritually in our hearts, bringing with him the riches of his grace.

In her concern for our salvation, our loving mother the Church uses this holy season to teach us through hymns, canticles and other forms of expression, of voice or ritual, used by the Holy Spirit. She shows us how grateful we should be for so great a blessing, and how to gain its benefit: our hearts should be as much prepared for the coming of Christ as if he were still to come into this world. The same lesson is given us for our imitation by the words and example of the holy men of the Old Testament.

He had been abbot for thirty-six years when he died on November 14, 1230. Numerous faithful were granted special favors by God at his grave. After the destruction of Mariëngaarde by the Calvinists in 1578, his earthly remains were rescued by a Frieslanden nobleman, Siard of Helsema, who brought them to Hildesheim. In 1608 his relics were divided and placed in two separate reliquaries. One of these was brought to the abbey of St. Feuillin du Roeulz in 1617. After the suppression of this abbey during the French Revolution the relics were taken to the church at Strépy. In 1938 Prelate Bauwens brought them to the Norbertine abbey of Leffe. The other reliquary was brought to Tongerlo in 1617, where ever since the people have held St. Siard in great honor and celebrated his feast each year with great solemnity. A part of the relic of Siard’s head found a home in the Generalate House in Rome until 2000 when it was transferred to the abbey of Windberg. The cult of St. Siard was confirmed by Pope Benedict XIII on January 22/March 8, 1728.

God, who made Your saints to obey the Gospel as an example for many; grant, we beseech You, that we may imitate the cheerful goodness and devout piety of the blessed abbot Siard. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

text from postulatio.info

Archibasilica Sanctissimi Salvatoris et Sanctorum Iohannes Baptistae et Evangelistae in Laterano Omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput

On the 9th November, we were thrilled to be invited by the Canons
Regular of the Lateran to celebrate their feastday at their Priory and
Parish in Eltham. Not only was it the feast of the Dedication of the
Lateran Basilica, but the Canons are also celebrating this year the
100th anniversary of the parish of Christ Chuch in Eltham. Fr Hugh, Br
Pius and Br Stephen were among the guests, which included many
representatives from the family of Canons Regular, including the
Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception (Milton Keynes), the
Canonesses Regular of St Augustine (Lewes), the Canonesses Regular of
the Holy Sepulchre (here in Chelmsford and in Colchester) and several
sisters of other congregations that also follow the Rule of Our Holy
Father Augustine. The Parish is lucky enough to have a beautiful
Austrian statue of St Augustine in the Church, a vivid reminder of the
links between all canonical religious who share a great devotion to
the Father of the canonical life himself.

Many thanks to the Prior of Christ Church, Fr Gary, the former Abbot
Primate Fr Anthony, Fr John (parish priest), and Fr Denis (assistant
priest) for their warm hospitality and kind invitation to celebrate
Mass with them and share their feastday luncheon.