900th Anniversary Saints

Give success to the work of our hands Ca. mid-12th century – 1230. Siard joined the Frisian abbey of Mariengaarden which had been founded by Sr. Frederick. In 1194 he became the fifth abbot of that monastery. He insisted on being treated as an equal among his brothers and joined them in their manual labors and in the distribution of food to the poor. Nonetheless, the austere regime he established in his abbey met with opposition and even physical attack from one of his confreres. Saint Siard is one of many Norbertine priests in our 900-year history that has fulfilled his [...]

Apostolic life St. Augustine (354 – 430) was a preeminent champion of monastic life in the West and an important founder of what would come to be called the life of canons, clerics who combine monastic usages and contemplation with pastoral Care. The Norbertines and all orders of canons regular follow the Rule he gave to his followers in the religious life. They celebrate on this day, Augustine’s birthday, all the holy ones of their religious communities. O God of our hearts, you draw us ever deeper into that silence which gives birth to the love of friends and the birth [...]

Seeking after peace. Born towards the end of the 11th century – June 6, 1152. Born into a noble French family, Saint Gilbert married and settled on a family estate near the abbey of Dilo. About 1146 he responded to St Bernard of Clairvaux’s call to the Crusades but became disillusioned by the immoral conduct of the Christian army. In repentance he returned home, devoted his life to God and founded the abbey of Neuf-Fontaine where he became the first abbot and where he built a hospital for the poor and was buried in their cemetery. Of all true peace, you [...]

Patience in suffering. April 11, 1897 – October 20, 1924. Born in Vienna, Blessed James Kern felt pulled to religious life and service to his community. He entered the seminary there and served as a young officer in the Austrian Army during World War I. He was severely wounded and after convalescence rejoined the seminary and later the abbey of Geras where he was ordained. His health deteriorated due to his war wound and he died on the operating table in Vienna at the age of 27. God of all Compassion in the suffering and death of your Son you entered [...]

Truth 1757 -October 13, 1797. Born at Muneville-le-Bingard, France. Blessed Pierre-Adrien Toulorge felt the pull to religious life early on in life and lived out his vocation to God. Ordained a diocesan priest, he became inspired by the ideals of Norbert and entered the abbey of Beauport. Living at the height of the terrors of the French Revolution, he went into exile on the island of Jersey but retuned to France one year later. He was captured and did not hide the fact that he had gone into exile, a crime under the Reign of Terror. By this admission he was [...]

Love of the Cross Beginning of the 13th century  - August 29, 1259. Born at Kamien, Poland. Called upon by God to religious life, Blessed Bronislava fulfilled her life’s vocation. She entered the community of Norbertine nuns at Cracow. She became a mystic who identified closely with the Cross. In the face of danger from attack by the Tartars, she led her sisters to safety. She rebuilt the Cracow convent, cared for the poor, the sick and the victim of Tartar invasion. Compassionate God, to your Son on the Cross you draw peoples of every time and place. You drew to [...]

Longing and desire for God 354 – 430. We celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Augustine today, August 28. He is one of the most significant preachers, theologians, and pastors in the history of Christianity. A north African, Augustine was educated from his youth to be a rhetorician and tom seek political power. He was both a self-indulgent seeker after pleasure and a tireless seeker after truth. After his conversion, he founded a lay monastery but, against his will, was ordained a priest and later made bishop of Hippo. He preached and wrote tirelessly combining erudition with pastoral care. Saint Norbert later [...]

Humility. Care of the sick and the poor 1227 to 1297. Blessed Gertrude was the youngest of the three children of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. God called upon Gertrude to religious life from a young age. From early childhood she was offered to the service of God at the Norbertine convent of Altenberg where she was chosen abbess and where she served the poor in many ways of humble service. O God, protector of the poor, from the wealth and high standing of a noble family and the inspiring example of her mother St. Elizabeth you led Gertrude to be a [...]

Power in humility Ca.1170 – 1217. Born into a noble Bohemian family, he became a widower and decided to give up his lands and possessions to find the abbey of Tepla. He then made a vow to take part in the Crusade of 1197 which he was forced to abandon. In release of his promise by the pope, Blessed Hroznata founded a community of Norbertine nuns at Chotieschow and entered the Norbertine Order himself. He met violent opposition because of his generosity and was seized by hostile knights who imprisoned him where he died of starvation. Almighty God, mighty are your [...]

PRIESTS AND MARTYRS OF GORCUM. Partners in ministry Today we celebrate two Norbertine saints who dutifully served God. Adrian and James were canons of the Dutch abbey of Middleburg. They were caught up in the religious wars of the last quarter of the 16th century. James was appointed associate pastor to Adrian. Along with other religious priest they were captured by Calvinist pirates and were imprisoned in Gorcum where they were martyred along with the other religious who refused to renounce their Catholic faith. God of all compassion, in the life of your blessed Trinity and in the self-emptying of Jesus [...]