MMXVII

2017

1631 years since the conversion of Our Holy Father Augustine

1587 years since the death of Our Holy Father Augustine

937 years since the birth of Our Holy Father Norbert

924 years since the birth of Blessed Hugh

904 years since Our Holy Father Norbert declined the bishopric of Cambrai

902 years since the conversion of Our Holy Father Norbert

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

896 years since the foundation of our Order at Prémontré

883 years since the death of Our Holy Father Norbert

874 years since the foundation of our Order in Britain

854 years since St. Frederick constructed the abbey church at Mariengaarde

824 years since the foundation of Teplá by Blessed Hroznata

814 years since the birth of Blessed Bronislava of Zwierzyniec

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

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

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

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

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

227 years since the closure of Prémontré

224 years since the martyrdom of Blessed Peter-Adrian Toulorge of Blanchelande

145 years since the return of our Order to England

74 years since the death in Auschwitz of the canons of Nová Řiše

13 years since the foundation of our canonry

9 years since the foundation of our house in Chelmsford

The Abbot and Community of St Philip’s Priory, Chelmsford, wish all our readers, benefactors, relatives and friends a blessed and happy New Year!

Below is the Novena prayer that we will be praying after all Masses in the run up to the Solemnity of St Joseph. The Novena will begin on 10th March and will be offered for the good estate of the Universal Church. Please join us in making this Novena to St Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church.

Below are some photos taken during the Pontifical High Mass (Extraordinary Form) celebrated by Abbot Hugh on Monday, the Solemnity of St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. More photos here.

At the kind invitation of Mr Christopher Foyle, the present owner of Beeleigh Abbey, our Prior, Abbot Hugh Allan o.praem., and some members of our community visited this former Premonstratensian house on Wednesday 30 March.

Abbot Hugh was named the Titular Abbot of Beeleigh last year, and to commemorate his elevation, Mr Foyle has added the Abbot’s name to the list of the historical Abbots of Beeleigh, which is displayed on the wall of the Abbey’s old chapter house.

Beeleigh Abbey, which is located less than 10 miles away from Chelmsford, was a Norbertine house from 1180 until the monastic dissolution of 1536. The community were shown those parts of the old Abbey that have survived, namely the calefactory, the dormitory and the chapter house, which were incorporated into the post-Reformation private house.

Christopher Foyle is the owner of Foyles Bookshops and has written a book on the history of his home, which includes fascinating details regarding its Norbertine past. We are very grateful to Mr and Mrs Foyle for for their continued friendship, as well as for their generous and welcoming hospitality.

More photos here.

Please join us in praying to Our Holy Father Norbert as we prepare to celebrate his feast day. We thank God for the gift of so zealous and devoted son, and pray that He will continue to bless us with vocations who, like Our Holy Father, lift high the Blessed Sacrament above all the errors and miseries of the world.

To follow us in the novena use this booklet: Novena to St Norbert

Our Abbot, Rt Rev Hugh Allan o.praem., has written an article in the Catholic Herald about his role as Apostolic Administrator of the Falkland Islands, and Ecclesiastical Superior of the sui iuris Missions of St Helena, Tristan da Cunha, and the Ascension Island.

Today is the feast day of Pope St Pius X, often called the ‘Glorious Pope of the Eucharist’. May his steadfast faith and fervent devotion to Our Eucharistic Lord inspire us all!

In many ways Pope St Pius X’s Eucharistic devotion mirrored that of Our Holy Father Norbert. Just as Norbert was sent to Antwerp to crush the heresies of Tanchelin and offer reparation to the insults heaped on the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, so St Pius X, as Patriarch of Venice, held three days of public reparation when thieves stole a ciborium from a church in Venice scattering the Most Blessed Sacrament upon the ground.

On the Solemnity of St Philip Benizi we celebrated the Simple Profession of Br Gildas D Parry.

More photos can be found on our Facebook page.

Please keep Br Gildas in your prayers, and ask Almighty God that He might bless us with more vocations.

Prayer for Vocations
Almighty Father, raise up abundant and holy vocations to the Order of Prémontré. Send us good and holy souls who will keep the Faith alive and guard the blessed memory of Our Holy Fathers Augustine and Norbert. Send us ardent yet gentle men who through the preaching of Christ’s word and the administration of the Sacraments may continually renew your faithful.

Grant us holy ministers of your altar who will be careful and fervent guardians of the Eucharist; lifting high the Blessed Sacrament above all the errors and miseries of the world. Amen.

THE SAINTS AND BEATI OF THE ORDER OF PRÉMONTRÉ

ADALBERT, Blessed Son of King Vladislaus II of Bohemia. Canon of Strahov then Archbishop of Salzburg.
ADRIAN AND JAMES, Saints (The Martyrs of Gorcum) Adrian Jansen was a canon of Middelburg and after service as novice master he was twice appointed the pastor of the abbey’s parishes. James Lacops was a canon of the same abbey who had joined the Calvinists, but he repented and returned to the abbey where he entered upon a life of penance. He was later appointed a parish priest. Both priests were captured by Calvinists in 1572 and on 9th July of that same year they were hanged from the rafters of a barn together with seventeen other priests and religious. 
ADRIAN, Blessed Canon and prior of St. Michael’s, Antwerp. 
AGNES, Blessed From the family of the powerful counts of Berne. She became a Premonstratensian nun of the greatest humility.
ALBERON, Blessed Bishop of Verdun, companion of the holy founders Bernard and Norbert founded St. Paul in Verdun. Resigned in 1156 and became a Premonstratensian at St. Paul’s. He lived for two years in the utmost simplicity and humility as a devote follower of the Rule. As he had predicted as died on the 2nd November 1158.
ALDERIC, Blessed From a wealthy French family, became a pauper for Christ as a lay brother in the monastery of Fuessenich. Went to his heavenly reward 6th February 1250.
ANASTASIA, Blessed Duchess of Pomerania and foundress of the convent of Treptow which attracted great numbers of holy women.
ARNOLD, Blessed Parish priest of Ninove.
ARNULPHUS, Blessed Lay brother in the Canonry of Ninove.
AUCULPHUS, Blessed Disciple of St. Norbert at Prémontré. Blessed Hugh made him first abbot of Joyenval. His holiness and good works were manifold and thus he merited the crown of the blessed in heaven.
AUGUSTINE, Saint Confessor, Doctor of the Church and Bishop of Hippo. Appeared to Our Holy Father Norbert to deliver to him the Rule.
BEATRIX, Blessed Canoness of Engelport.
BESSELA, Blessed Wife of Blessed Folcold, Count of Berne. Foundress of the convent of Woerd.
BRONISLAVA, Blessed Canoness of Krakow who practised great devotion to the Holy Cross. In a vision she was warned of the advance of the Tartars and was able to lead her sisters to safety. After the convent had been destroyed Bronislava and her sisters lived amongst the victims of the attack and ministered to their spiritual and physical difficulties. She died on August 29 1259.
CASTAL, Blessed Prior of Siloe Zeliv.
DANIEL, Blessed Canon and abbot of Nemore.
DIDACUS, Blessed From Alba, lay brother of Alba de Tormes, St. Leonardo.
DIDACUS, Blessed Last abbot-for-life of the monastery of St. Michael, Villamayor de Trevio. Reformer of the Spanish Circary.

Bl Dodo

DODO, Blessed Canon of Mariangaarde. Stigmatist.
DOMINIC, Blessed Brother of King Alphonse VII of Castile, founder and first abbot of the monastery of La Vid, Spain.
DOMINIC, Saint Canon of La Vid, Spain. Founder of the Order of Preachers.
EELKO, Blessed Twelfth abbot of Lidlum. Assassinated by his brethren when he protested at the laxity of their observance. Venerated as a martyr.
ELIZABETH, Blessed Canoness and prioress of Herenthals.
ENGLAND, Martyrs of Those canons, their names unknown to us, who suffered for the faith under the reign of King Henry VIII. Amongst them the canons of Barlings abbey and their abbot, Matthew Thomas Mackerel, Titular Bishop of Chalcedon, executed 29th March 1537.
ENTO (OR ENTEUS), Blessed Second abbot of Mariengaarde.
ERMENGARD, Blessed Freed from marriage and having renounced the world, founded the monastery of Cuissy where, with forty nuns, they led the Premonstratensian life directed by St. Norbert. A life of regular observance led to glorious virtues and Ermengard died a happy death.
EVERARD, Blessed Canon of Marianweerd, made first abbot of Berne.
EVERMODE, Saint Born in Cameraci, second disciple of St. Norbert and constant companion on all his travels. Became first prior of the Canons of Magdeburg and latterly consecrated first bishop of Ratzeburg, known as the ‘Apostle of the Wends’. Famed for his preaching and miracles, he went to his heavenly reward on 17th February 1177.
FOLCOLD, Blessed Count, founder of Berne, where he served as a lay brother.
FREDRICK, Saint First abbot and founder of Mariengaarde.
GAREMBERT, Saint Canon of Mont-St-Martin. Founder and first abbot. Adorned by miracles and great sanctity he fell asleep in the Lord on December 31st 1141.
GAUTIER (GALTERUS), Blessed Designated by St. Norbert the first abbot of St. Martin of Laon in 1124. Latterly bishop of Laon (after Bartholomew) for almost three years. By the time of his happy death he was renowned for his sanctity and virtue.
GERARD, Blessed From Cambrai. Disciple of St. Norbert at Prémontré. In 1131 Blessed Hugh appointed him first abbot of the Canons of Clairefontaine. His life, virtues, words and holiness shone brightly. He completed his glorious life with a glorious end.
GERLAC, Blessed Canon and later Prior of Milevsko.
GERLAC, Saint A licentious soldier who devoted his life to Christ after the death of his wife. Pilgrim to Rome and Jerusalem. Returned to Holland to lead a hermit’s life, wearing the white habit of Prémontré, as he had been directed by Pope Adrian IV. Performed severe penances and wrought miracles. Went to his heavenly reward on January 5th 1171.
GERTRUDE, Blessed Daughter of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Promised to God by her parents she was brought to Altenberg at the age of one in 1228. Joined the community there and became abbess. Built the abbey. Renowned for her penance and service to the poor, she was a great propagator of the feast of Corpus Christi.

Saint Gilbert with Blessed Pontia and Blessed Petronilla

GILBERT, Saint A crusader knight. Distributed his personal wealth to the poor and needy and thence financed the construction of an abbey for Norbertine nuns. His wife Petronilla and his daughter Pontia both entered this abbey and Gilbert himself entered the Order at our abbey of Dilo. He later built the abbey of Neuffontaines in 1150 and became its first abbot.
GODESCAIC, Blessed Abbot of Mont St Martin, made bishop of Arras.
GODFREY, Blessed Canon of Magdeburg, first prior of Arnstein. 
GODFREY, Blessed Disciple of St. Norbert and Canon of Prémontré. Blessed Hugh appointed him abbot of Valsecret in 1129. Through his sanctity and good works he merited eternal life.
GODFREY, Blessed Nineteenth abbot of Steinfeld. Martyr.
GODFREY, Saint From Cappenburg in Westphalia. Deeply moved by the preaching of St. Norbert he and his brother established the abbey at Cappenburg. His wife entered a community of canonesses and he and his brother went to Prémontré in 1125. Followed St. Norbert to Magdeburg but retired through ill health, dying on January 13th 1127.
GRIMO, Blessed Second Prior of Ursberg.
GUARIN, Blessed Prior of St. Martin at Laon, latterly first abbot of Vicogne and thence second abbot of St. Martin at Laon.
GUDA, Blessed Wife of Count Ludwig of Arstein, foundress and first prioress of the convent at Arnstein.
GUIDO, Blessed A Briton from a noble family. Founder of the monastery of Vicogne where he became a canon.
GUIDO, Blessed Count of Branens. Became a lay brother at Prémontré.
HADWIG, Blessed Devoted to her mother, who consented to her entering the convent of Meer. Known for piety and sanctity.
HAITONUS, Blessed Descendent of the royal family of Armenia, Canon on Cyprus.
HAYTO (OR MACARIUS), Blessed From Armenia, canon of Bellapais, Cyprus.
HELINUS, Blessed Seventh abbot of Floreffe, then abbot of Saint Habbakuk in Palestine.
HENRY ZOLICK, Blessed Founder and first prior of Strahov, bishop of Olomuc.
HENRY, Blessed Born in Rheims, Canon of Prémontré and disciple of St. Norbert, made first abbot of the Canons of Valsery in 1124. He led a heavenly and holy life.
HENRY, Blessed Count of Arnburg and founder of Arnsberg-Wedinghausen where he lived as a lay brother.

Saint Hermann Joseph

HERMANN JOSEPH, Saint Canon of Steinfeld. Renowned for his tender devotion to the Blessed virgin in whose honour he composed prayers and hymns. Graced by ecstatic visions in which he was mystically espoused to Mary. He went to his heavenly reward on 7th April 1241.
HERMANN THE JEW, Blessed Convert to Christianity from Judaism. Canon of Cappenburg, made first Prior of Scheda.
HERMANN, Blessed Fourth abbot of Floreffe.
HERMANN, Blessed Son of Blessed Hildegund. Fourth Prior of Cappenburg.
HESCELINUS, Blessed Subprior of Ninove.
HILDEGUNDE, Blessed Countess, founded Meer in 1165 and became its first prioress.
HROZNATA, Blessed Born in 1170 to a noble family of Bohemia. After the death of his wife and child he founded the abbey of Tepl and the convent at Chotieschow. Received the white habit at the hands of Innocent III. Entered Tepl as a lay brother. Starved to death by the enemies of the Church. 
HUGH OF FOSSE, Blessed First disciple of St. Norbert. Born at Fosse, Belgium. In 1119 he met and began to follow St. Norbert, first on the preaching missions in Hainault and Brabant. Succeeded St. Norbert as Abbot General of the Order in 1129. Known for his zeal for souls and glorious sanctity, he died on 10th February 1164. 
ISFRID, Saint Provost of Jerichow and successor of Saint Evermode as second bishop of Ratzeburg. Known in life and in death for his miraculous healings. 
IVO, Blessed From Soissons. Attracted by St. Norbert’s sanctity and piety he, with his pious wife Heluide, their two sons and a daughter became a Premonstratensian in 1124, with the approval of Lisiardo, bishop of Soissons. A lay-brother known for his patience, humility and a crown of other virtues, he went to his heavenly reward in 1136. 
JAMES KERN, Blessed Canon and priest of Geras, Austria. He had been training at a diocesan seminary at the outbreak of the First World War when he was drafted into the Army. during his time of active service he was badly wounded and his afflictions would cause his continuing physical pain throughout his life. Despite these sufferings James returned to the seminary at the end of the War and proceeded with his studies. At the same time a Norbertine canon, Bogumil Zahradnik had become a leader of the schismatical Czech National Church. James was moved to offer himself to the Norbertine Order in atonement for the sins of this priest and he was duly accepted as a novice at Geras. Ordained priest in 1922 James continued to bear his pains with great courage and determination, all without a word of complaint. He entered into his priestly ministry with great enthusiasm, especially in hearing his confession and his work with young people. After many struggles, physical and spiritual, James went to his eternal reward on October 20th 1924. He was beatified by John Paul II on June 21st 1998.
JAMES, Blessed Canon and twenty-first abbot of Steinfeld.
JAMES, Blessed Novice of the canonry of Ninove.
JEAN D’AUELOIS, Blessed Fifth abbot of Floreffe.
JOHN II, Blessed Abbot of Prémontré.
JOHN OF ORGANIA, Blessed Canon and Abbot of Bellpuig.
JOHN, Blessed Abbot of the Royal Canonry of Strahov, thence archbishop of Prague.
JOHN, Blessed Made superior of the monastery at Wurzburg by St. Norbert in 1126. Admired for his holy life and propagation of the Premonstratensian life, of which he was an ardent disciple. 
JULIANA, Saint Nun of the convent attached to the abbey of Mont-Cornillon at Liege. Promoted devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, which inspired St. Thomas Aquinas. She urged Pope Urban IV to extend the feast of Corpus Christi to the universal church. She went to her heavenly reward in the year 1252. 
LAMBERT OF LIEDEKERKE, Blessed Canon of Ninove. 

Ss. Ludolph, Evermode and Isfrid

LUDOLPH, Saint Canon and later bishop of Ratzeburg. A strict observer of the religious life he was an exemplary pastor of his flock. Thrown into prison when he refused to surrender the cathedral properties to Prince Albert of Sachsen-Lauenburg he died from maltreatment shortly after his release. Venerated as a martyr for the rights of the church. 
LUDWIG, Blessed Count, founder of Arnstein and lay brother there. 
LUKE BARTHOLOMEW, Blessed Dean of the diocese of Laon, rejected the vain pleasures of the world to enter the Premonstratensian Order. St. Norbert made him first abbot of the monastery at Cuissy in 1127. Famed for his virtue and merits and great innocence of life. 
LUKE, Blessed Follower of St. Norbert at Floreffe. St. Norbert designated him first abbot of the monastery of Mont-Cornillon at Liege. He was known for his writings and teachings, which he combined with a life of great sanctity. 
MACARIUS, Blessed See entry for Hayto, Blessed 
MARTYRS OF GORCUM –  See entry for ADRIAN AND JAMES, Saints 
MILO, Blessed A Canon of Prémontré, formerly a nobleman of Amiens, who left his home to follow the religious life. St. Norbert directed him and made him first abbot of the Canons of St. Judocus at Dommartin in 1123. Later made Bishop of Therouanne. His humility and teaching resulted in glorious sanctity which earned for him a heavenly crown. 
MILO, Blessed Canon of Auxerre, St. Marianus and later fourth abbot. 
NORBERT, Saint Founder of the Premonstratensian Order, born in Xanten, Germany in 1080. Founded the Order at Prémontré, France in 1121. Reluctantly assented to become Archbishop of the See of Magdeburg in 1127. Glorious for his virtues and miracles, he fell asleep in the Lord in the year 1134. 
ODA, Blessed Prioress of the convent of Bonne Esperance. 
ODINO, Blessed Prior of Rot. 
ODO, Blessed A wealthy citizen of Laon who renounced the world to become a pauper for Christ and a Premonstratensian under the care of St. Norbert and Blessed Hugh. First abbot of Bonne Esperance in 1129. Possessed innumerable virtues and sanctity through which he attained eternal life. 
ONULPH, Blessed Canon of Berne. 
OTTO, Blessed Brother of Blessed Godfrey of Cappenburg and third prior there. 
PALESTINE, Holy Martyrs of Aegidius (Giles) de Marle and 26 Companions Norbertines of the Abbey at Acre. St John at Acre was the home to Premonstratensians who had fled the houses of St. Habbakuk and St. Samuel after attacks by Moslem forces which had killed the majority of religious. Those who fled came to Acre which itself fell at the hands of Saladin. On November 8th 1291 Abbot Aegidius was cut into pieces before the eyes of his brethren so as to induce them to renounce their faith, none did so and thus they went to their deaths as martyrs for the faith of Christ. 
PETER VON KALMTHOUT, Blessed Canon of Tongerlo. Parish priest at Haren. Martyred in 1572 at the hands of Protestants. 
PETRONILLA, Blessed Wife of St. Gilbert. Foundress and first prioress of Aubeterre. 
PHILIP, Blessed Second Abbot of Bonne Esperance. 
PONTIA, Blessed Daughter of St. Gilbert and Blessed Petronilla, she succeeded her mother as prioress at Aubeterre. 
RABODO, Blessed Canon of Parc. 
RADULPHUS, Blessed Canon of Vicogne, made first abbot of Chateaudieu and later abbot of Vicogne. 
RAINERUS, Blessed FromPrémontré, he was made first abbot of the monastery of Auxerre, St. Marianus. 
REDIGUND, Blessed Canoness of St. Michael, Villamayor de Trevio. 
RICHARD, Blessed An Englishman, canon of Arnsberg. 
RICHARD, Blessed Companion of St. Norbert. From Prémontré St. Norbert designated him first prior of the Monastery of Floreffe in the year 1122. Led a praiseworthy canonical life which ended with glorious sanctity, meriting the crown of eternal happiness. 
RICHARD, Blessed Disciple of St. Norbert at Prémontré. Blessed Hugh appointed him first abbot of Pont-au-Mousson in 1131. His life was marked by piety, patience and humility. He was entirely crucified to the world and through his good works many souls returned to God. 
RICUERA, Blessed A noblewoman of Vermandois, she rejected the proposal of an advantageous marriage and in 1121 put herself under the direction of St. Norbert. Known as the first Premonstratensian nun. She led an admirable life, marked by sanctity and virtue which ended with a beautiful death. 
ROBERT, Blessed From England. Canon of St. Martin at Laon, made first abbot of Marienweerd. 
ROGER, Blessed Canon of Prémontré. Blessed Alberon, Bishop of Verdun, made him first abbot of the monastery of St. Paul at Verdun in 1136. He excelled in virtue and displayed great sanctity, the fame of which spread far and wide. Succeeded in attracting more than three hundred souls to his monastery.

Saint Siard

SIARD, Saint Abbot of Mariengaarde, received the habit at the hands of Saint Frederick. Famed for his penance and mortification, particularly his labours in the fields. A great friend of the poor, he went to his eternal reward on November 13th 1230. 
TAUKERED, Blessed A Briton, Canon of St. Judocus at Dommartin. Made first Prior of the canons at La Luzerne. 
THEODORE, Blessed Canon of Berne, made prior of Woerd. 
THEODORE, Blessed Count, Canon of Prémontré, made second abbot of St. Paul at Verdun. 
THOMAS (OR LAWRENCE), Blessed Canon of St. Matin, Laon. 
ULRIC, Blessed From Ratzeburg, where he was eleventh bishop. 
WALTER, Blessed Abbot of Vicogne. 
WALTMANN, Blessed Disciple of St. Norbert. Aided Our Holy Father in combating the Sacramentarian heresy of Tanchelm. Designated first prior of the monastery of St. Michael at Antwerp in 1124. So great were his sanctity and his glorious teaching that he merited the kingdom of heaven. 
WILHELM EISELIN, Blessed Canon of Roth. 
WILLIAM, Blessed Abbot of Vicogne. 
WIPERTUS, Blessed A canon of Ratzeburg and seventeenth bishop. 
WOYZLAVA, Blessed Sister of Blessed Hroznata. A widow, she helped in the founding of Chotieschow and there entered the Order. 

Praised be the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary!

We are delighted to announce that from Monday 5th March until Sunday 11th March Our Lady Immaculate Church, Chelmsford, will house the travelling exhibition on the Holy Shroud of Turin, this includes a full-size replica of the Holy Shroud.

This will be a wonderful opportunity during the season of Holy Lent to meditate on the Passion and Death of Our Lord and Saviour. Please support this initiative with your prayers, and join us if you are able.

Monday 5th March
Confessions – 1830-1930
Opening Mass – 1930

Tuesday 6th March – Friday 9th March
Confessions – 1100-1200
Stations of the Cross – 1200
Confessions – 1830-1930
Holy Mass – 1930

Saturday 10th March
Stations of the Cross – 1030
1100-1200 – Confessions
1200 – Closing Mass

The church will be open every day from 0700-2000.

If you would like to arrange to a group to come and visit the exhibition please contact our parish office: office@chelmsfordcatholic.co.uk; 01245 352898.

Please check our Facebook page for updates.

Please join us in praying to Our Holy Father Norbert as we prepare to celebrate his feast day. We thank God for the gift of so zealous and devoted son, and pray that He will continue to bless us with vocations who, like Our Holy Father, lift high the Blessed Sacrament above all the errors and miseries of the world.

To follow us in the novena use this booklet: Novena to St Norbert

Altar of the Assumption of Our Lady (the Blessed Sacrament Chapel), from our Abbey of Saint-Martin de Mondaye, Normandy

Today is the feast of Our Blessed Lady’s Assumption, and the ordo for the Norbertine Liturgy makes it clear that she is “Patrona Ordinis Nostri” – the Patroness of our Order.

Several of our Abbeys have Our Lady in her Assumption as their principal patroness, or feast of “title”: Averbode, Csorna, Daylesford, Kinshasa, Leffe, Schlägl, Strahov, Tongerlo, Villoria and Windberg.

Among the sayings of Our Holy Father Norbert is the line: “Sanctissimae Deiparae Virginis non est filius qui ei tota anima non servit.” – “He is no child of Mary who does not serve the most holy Virgin-Mother of God with all his soul.”

And so, with the greatest of devotion, we celebrate the strong patronage of the Mother of God over her white-robed sons and daughters in the Norbertine Order. May she bless us and keep us faithful!

Today we also celebrate with our confreres in the Royal Canonry of Strahov (Prague) the event of the Abbatial Blessing, conferred today upon their new Abbot, Father Daniel Janáček, by HE Dominik Cardinal Duka, Archbishop of Prague. May God bless Abbot Daniel and all the confreres of Strahov on this happy day.

Abbot Daniel Janacek

The Abbot General bestowed the Pectoral Cross following Abbot Daniel’s election

“O how glorious and beautiful art thou, O Mary, Temple of the Only-Begotten Son of God! Open unto us the gates of thy mercy and clemency, and grant that we might enter into thee, and therein deign to hear the prayers we make before thee. Our voice cries out to the Lord in thee, that from his holy temple he might hear our voice, and his ears attend to our cries.

Brethren, do not ever leave this Temple, but pour out your prayers in it and speak there all your troubles; for this Temple is none other than the Mother of Christ, and whatever prayers you make through her, God will hear; for he will receive your prayers made through her, since he deigned to take flesh from her and be born for our sake.”

-Adam of Dryburgh, Sermon 40

The Assumption of Our Lady, from the High Altar of the Abbey Church of Strahov, Prague

SS. Norbert and Bernard meet with the Emperor Lothair (from a window at Park Abbey, Belgium)

We have posted before about the great St Bernard of Clairvaux and his friendship with Our Holy Father Norbert.

As Vita B says about them: “Faith was the outstanding virtue of Norbert’s life, as Charity had been the hallmark of Bernard of Clairvaux.”

The two Saints were friends, and admired each other greatly. As reformers, they faced the problems in the wider church together, and were both men of holy eloquence, strict asceticism, and deep sanctity. Although both men were capable of moments of passionate fervour, they were not ill-tempered, but known rather for their gentleness.

After 1124, when Bernard signed the charter handing over the church of St Martin of Laon to the Premonstratensians, both Norbert and Bernard join forces in preaching against Abelard. In his own account, Abelard impiously remarked: “Two new apostles were raised against me, in whom people placed much trust. The one thought himself to have resurrected the life of the canons regular, the other the monastic life.” Far from vainly thinking of themselves as such, that is precisely what Norbert and Bernard did.

St Bernard was also instrumental in the founding of many of our houses. To inspire the Norbertine confreres of today, we remind you of the letter St Bernard wrote to Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem, recommending the Premonstratensians to her, in order that they (rather than his own Cistercian monks) might help her by establishing houses of canons there. May we, through St Bernard’s prayers, be worthy of his compliments and live up to his high expectations!

To Melisende, the august Queen of Jerusalem, Bernard of Clairvaux sends greeting. See how much trust I have in your majesty, since I dare to recommend others to you. And it would be as unnecessary as presumptuous, perhaps, for me to say much in recommendation of these brethren of Prémontré, for they so commend themselves by their own merit that they have no need of recommendation by another.

They will be found, if I mistake not, to be men of wisdom, strong in spirit, patient in tribulation, powerful in word and work. They have put on the whole armour of God and have girded themselves with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, to fight not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Welcome them, I beseech you, as peaceful warriors, sweet to men, and fearful only to demons. Or rather, welcome in them Jesus Christ Himself, Who is the only reason for the mission which they undertake.  (Ep.355, PL 182,557)

St Bernard of Clairvaux, Pray for us.

The Holy Father has exhorted Catholics across the globe to join in prayer, fasting and penance for the victims of clerical sexual abuse. Therefore, at the end of our Canonry Retreat there will be 24 hours of Eucharistic Adoration from 1100 on Friday 24th August to 1100 Saturday 25th August in our Priory Chapel. This will have the specific aim of making reparation before the Lord for the sins of His ministers.

Whilst, “no effort to beg pardon and to seek to repair the harm done will ever be sufficient” it is still our duty as Catholics to offer prayer and penance that, “will help us as God’s People to come before the Lord and our wounded brothers and sisters as sinners imploring forgiveness and the grace of shame and conversion.”

Timetable for the 24 hours of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Priory Chapel

Friday 24th

11am Opening Mass with prayers of reparation

12.15pm Rosary

3 p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet

5 p.m. Rosary

6 p.m. Evening Prayer (Vespers)

8 p.m. Compline (Night Prayer)

12 midnight Rosary

Saturday 25th

6 a.m. Rosary

8 a.m. Matins and Lauds (Morning Prayer)

10.45 a.m. Solemn Benediction

The chapel is open for the whole 24 hours. Please come at any time

On 20th September 2018 Very Rev Stephen Morrison o.praem., our Sub-Prior, was invited to preach at a centenary Mass for visible stigmata of St Pius of Pietrelcina at Corpus Christi Church, London.

More photos can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/…/catholici…/albums/72157695723445940