Saint Norbert
Stored in Cargo: Saint Norbert
| Saint Norbert | |
| Feast Day | June 06 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Peace, invoked during childbirth, Magdeburg |
| Birthplace | Xanten, Duchy of Lower Lorraine |
| Death Place | Magdeburg, Saxony |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Strahov Monastery, Prague, Czech Republic |
Saint Norbert (c. 1080 – June 6, 1134), also known as Norbert of Xanten, was a German saint, priest, and founder of the Norbertine Order (Premonstratensians). Born in Xanten, Duchy of Lower Lorraine, to a noble family, he lived a worldly life as a courtier and subdeacon until a near-death experience during a storm around 1115 prompted his conversion. Ordained a priest, he became an itinerant preacher, founding the Norbertines in 1120 at Prémontré, France, with a rule blending Augustinian and Cistercian ideals, emphasizing preaching and Eucharistic devotion.
As Archbishop of Magdeburg from 1126, he reformed the clergy, suppressed heresy, and mediated imperial-papal disputes, notably supporting Pope Innocent II. He died of natural causes in Magdeburg in 1134. Canonized in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, his feast day is June 6. He is patron of peace, invoked during childbirth, and patron of Magdeburg.[1][2]
His relics, translated to Strahov Monastery, Prague, in 1627, remain a pilgrimage site. Norbert’s legacy endures through the Norbertine Order, with abbeys worldwide, and his reputation as a peacemaker and defender of the Eucharist, notably against Tanchelm’s heresy. His life inspired reforms bridging monastic and secular clergy.[3][4]
Biography
Birth
Saint Norbert was born around 1080 in Xanten, Duchy of Lower Lorraine (modern-day Germany), to Heribert, Count of Gennep, and Hedwig of Guise, a noble family related to the Holy Roman Emperor. His early life was privileged, marked by wealth and courtly pursuits.[1][5]
Early Life
Destined for the Church, Norbert became a subdeacon, serving as a courtier to Emperor Henry V and the Archbishop of Cologne. His life was secular, enjoying luxury until a thunderstorm around 1115 threw him from his horse, prompting repentance. He embraced asceticism, sold his estates, and sought ordination.[2][6]
Occupation
Ordained a priest around 1115, Norbert became an itinerant preacher in Germany and France, known for his fiery sermons and miracles. In 1120, with Bishop Bartholomew of Laon, he founded the Norbertine Order at Prémontré, approved by Pope Honorius II in 1126. As Archbishop of Magdeburg (1126–1134), he enforced clerical celibacy and combated heresy.[1][3]
Vocation
Norbert’s vocation was preaching, reform, and Eucharistic devotion. His Norbertines combined monastic discipline with active ministry, serving as “canons regular.” He opposed Tanchelm’s anti-sacramental heresy in Antwerp, restoring Eucharistic faith, and mediated peace between Emperor Lothair III and the papacy, supporting Pope Innocent II in 1130. His miracles included calming storms and healing the sick.[4][7]
Death
Norbert died on June 6, 1134, in Magdeburg, Saxony, of natural causes, likely exhaustion or illness, aged about 54. Buried in Magdeburg’s Norbertine abbey, his relics were moved to Strahov Monastery, Prague, in 1627 after Protestant destruction during the Thirty Years’ War.[1][8]
Significant events
Significant locations
Legend
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Death location: None
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Canonization
Servant of God
Norbert’s recognition as a Servant of God began soon after his death, with miracles reported at his tomb in Magdeburg. His cult grew among Norbertines and laity.[2]
Venerable
No formal Venerable declaration was recorded, as his sainthood was processed before modern protocols. Devotion spread in Germany and France by the 12th century.[1]
Beatification
No distinct beatification process existed, as his canonization relied on early veneration and reported miracles.[4]
Canonization
Norbert was canonized in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII in Rome, based on his miracles, reforms, and Norbertine legacy. His feast day, June 6, was formalized in the Roman Calendar.[1][5]
Miracles
No specific miracles were required for canonization, but Norbert’s life was marked by reported wonders, including healings and storm-calming, attributed to his intercession.[7]
Miracle for beatification
No miracle was formally documented, as his veneration predates modern processes.[2]
Miracle for canonization
Miracles like healing the sick and calming storms were cited, though specifics are not well-documented.[8]
Other notable miracles
- Calmed a storm during preaching, c. 1118.
- Healed the sick in Antwerp, c. 1120.
- Reported posthumous healings at his tomb.[7]
Patronage
Saint Norbert is patron of peace, invoked during childbirth, and patron of Magdeburg, reflecting his role as a peacemaker and reformer.[6][4]
Feast day
His feast day is celebrated on June 6 in the Roman Catholic Church, commemorating his death.[1]
Veneration
Norbert is venerated through pilgrimages to Strahov Monastery, Prague, where his relics are enshrined. His image, often with a monstrance or mitre, adorns Norbertine abbeys and churches in Magdeburg and Xanten. Feast day Masses honor his Eucharistic devotion and peace advocacy. The Norbertine Order, with communities in Europe, America, and beyond, continues his mission of preaching and reform.[5][8]
Books
Written about the saint
- Lives of the Saints, Vol. VI by Alban Butler[2]
- Norbert and Early Norbertine Spirituality by Theodore J. Antry[1]
- Saint Norbert: Founder of the Premonstratensian Order by Norbert Backmund[4]
Written by the saint
- None recorded, though he wrote sermons and letters, now lost.[2]
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "Norbert of Xanten". Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norbert_of_Xanten.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "St. Norbert". New Advent. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11138b.htm.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Saint Norbert". Franciscan Media. 2022-06-06. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-norbert.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Saint Norbert of Xanten". CatholicSaints.Info. https://catholicsaints.info/saint-norbert-of-xanten/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Saint Norbert". St. Michael’s Abbey. https://www.norbertines.org/our-founder.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Saint Norbert, Bishop". Catholic News Agency. 2011-06-06. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-norbert-bishop-489.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "St. Norbert of Xanten". Catholic Exchange. 2024-06-06. https://catholicexchange.com/st-norbert-of-xanten.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "St Norbert, Bishop and Confessor". Traditional Catholic. https://www.traditionalcatholic.co/st-norbert/.