Premonstratensians

Candidus et Canonicus Ordo Praemonstratensis
Shield of the Premonstratensians Shield of the Premonstratensians
Abbreviation	OPraem
Formation	1120
Type	Catholic religious order
Headquarters	Viale Giotto, 27, 00153 Rome, Italy
Location	Worldwide
Coordinates	41°52′44.07″N 12°29′19.39″E / 41.8789083°N 12.4887194°E
Region served	Worldwide
Members	1600+ (2024)
Abbot General	Josef Wouters
Main organ	General Chapter
Affiliations	Catholic Church
Website	www.premontre.org

The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré (Latin: Candidus et Canonicus Ordo Praemonstratensis), also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines and, in Britain and Ireland, as the White Canons (from the colour of their habit), is a religious order of canons regular in the Catholic Church. They were founded in Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Norbert of Xanten, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg. Premonstratensians are designated by O.Praem (Ordo Praemonstratensis) following their name. They are part of the Augustinian tradition.

Norbert was a friend of Bernard of Clairvaux and was largely influenced by the Cistercian ideals as to both the manner of life and the government of his order. As the Premonstratensians are not monks but canons regular, their work often involves preaching and the exercising of pastoral ministry; they frequently serve in parishes close to their abbeys or priories.

History

The order was founded in 1120. Saint Norbert had made various efforts to introduce a strict form of canonical life in various communities of canons in Germany; in 1120 he was working in the now-extinct Ancient Diocese of Laon, in Picardy, northeastern France. There, in a rural place called Prémontré, he and thirteen companions established a monastery to be the cradle of a new order. As they were canons regular, they followed the Rule of St. Augustine, but with supplementary statutes that made their life one of great austerity. Common prayer and celebration of the Eucharist was to be the sustaining dynamic of the community.

In 1126, when the order received papal approbation by Pope Honorius II, there were nine houses; others were established in quick succession throughout western Europe, so that at the middle of the fourteenth century there were some 1,300 monasteries for men and 400 for women. The Norbertines played a predominant part in the conversion of the Wends and the bringing of Christianity to the territories around the Elbe and the Oder. In time, mitigations and relaxations emerged, and these gave rise to reforms and semi-independent congregations within the Order.

The Norbertines arrived in England about 1143, first at Newhouse in Lincoln, England; before the dissolution under Henry VIII there were 35 houses. Soon after their arrival in England, they founded Dryburgh Abbey in the Borders area of Scotland, which was followed by other communities at Whithorn Priory, Dercongal Abbey and Tongland Abbey all in the Borders area, as well as Fearn Abbey in the northern part of the nation. Like most orders they were almost completely devastated by the successive onslaughts of the Reformation, French Revolution, and Napoleon, but then experienced a revival in the 19th century.

By the beginning of the nineteenth century the order had become almost extinct, only eight houses surviving, all in the Habsburg monarchy. However, there was something of a resurgence, and at the start of the twentieth century there were 20 monasteries and 1000 priests. As of 2005, the number of monasteries had increased to nearly 100 and spread to every continent. In 1893, Father Bernard Pennings and two other Norbertines from Berne Abbey arrived in the United States of America to minister to Belgian immigrants in northern Wisconsin. De Pere, Wisconsin became the site of the first Norbertine Abbey in the new world.

By their nature as canons regular the Premonstratensians have always engaged in pastoral work of various kinds, including what would now be called retreat centres (nearly everywhere), and care for pilgrims (as at Conques) and, like many religious houses, have often run schools on a variety of scales (Averbode Abbey, Berne Abbey, United States, Australia). In order to support themselves, the different communities have down the centuries, and in modern times, operated small-scale manual activities (SME) such as printing (Averbode Abbey, Tongerlo Abbey, Berne Abbey), farming (Kinshasa, Ireland, Postel Abbey), forestry (Schlägl Abbey, Geras Abbey, Slovakia), and cheese-making (Postel Abbey). They have also entered agreements with breweries (Tongerlo Abbey, Postel Abbey, Park Abbey, Leffe, Grimbergen) and undertaken artistic bookbinding (in Oosterhout). Other activities have included the running of an astronomical observatory (Mira, Grimbergen).

In 2015, there were some 1000 male and 200 female members of the Order.

The Feast of All Norbertine Saints and Blesseds is celebrated internally on November 13.

The Norbertines have also had a major presence in the area of Green Bay, Wisconsin, owning WBAY television and radio stations until the mid-1970s. The Norbertines ran two local boys high schools until 1990 and still run four local schools in De Pere and Green Bay. Among these schools is St. Norbert College, the only Norbertine higher education institution in the world.

Canonesses

The Order has several abbeys of women who, though technically called canonesses, follow the life of an enclosed religious order and are therefore more commonly termed Norbertine nuns. Like the Norbertine communities for men, those for women are autonomous. Unusually, within the religious communities of the Catholic Church, the Norbertine Order has always seen the spiritual life of the canonesses as being on an equal footing with that of its priests and lay brothers. In the Middle Ages, the Premonstratensians even had a few double monasteries, where men and women lived in cloisters located next to each other as part of the same abbey, the communities demonstrating their unity by sharing the church building. Today, it is common for a foundation of canonesses to have links not only with other canonesses, but also with a community of canons.

Premonstratensian Rite

The Premonstratensians were among the religious orders with their own rite who kept this rite after Pope Pius V suppressed such rites with a continuous tradition of less than two hundred years. The Premonstratensian Rite was especially characterized by a ritual solemnity. The Premonstratensian Rite was also characterized by an emphasis on the Paschal mystery unique among the Latin rites. This was especially seen in the solemnity with which the daily conventional High Mass and office was celebrated during the Easter octave, especially vespers which concluded with a procession to the baptismal font, a practice paralleled among the Latin rites only in similar processions still found in the Ambrosian Rite. Another unique practice of the Premonstratensian Rite was the celebration of a daily votive Mass in honor of the Virgin Mary in each of its abbeys and priories.

Structure

Since Norbertine abbeys (and most priories) are autonomous, practices and apostolates are different, depending on the needs of the local Church. Some houses are contemplative in character whilst others are highly active in pastoral ministry. However, each is guided by the Rule of Saint Augustine and the Constitutions established by the General Chapter, which is held every six years.

The general Chapter includes representatives from both male and female communities. The head of the Order, termed Abbot General, resides in Rome, and he is assisted in his duties by the Definitors (High Council) as well as commissions established for various aspects of the Order's life such as liturgy and inter-abbey communications.

Abbeys

As of 2012, there were Premonstratensian abbeys or priories throughout the world: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czechia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the USA.

There are seven circaries (Premonstratensian term for an ecclesiastical province):

Anglica Circary St Norbert Priory, Queens Park, Perth, Australia Priory of Our Lady of Sorrows, Peckham, England Holy Trinity Abbey, Kilnacrott, Ireland St. Norbert Abbey, De Pere, Wisconsin Holy Spirit House of Studies, Chicago Daylesford Abbey, Paoli, Pennsylvania, USA Immaculate Conception Priory, Middletown, Delaware, USA St. Michael's Abbey, California, USA Corpus Christi Priory Norbertine Canonesses of the Bethlehem Priory of St. Joseph, California, USA Santa Maria de la Vid Abbey, New Mexico, USA St. Norbert Abbey, Jamtara, Jabalpur (M.P), India St. Norbert Priory, Indara, India St. Norbert Priory, Mumbai, India St. Norbert Study House, Nagpur, India Norbertine Study House, Pune, India Canonry of Verapoly, Kerala, India Canonry of Manathawady, India St. Norbert's Priory, Cape Town, South Africa St. Norbert Priory, Tamil Nadu, India Bohemica Circary Nová Říše Monastery, Czechia Strahov Monastery, Czechia Canonry in Holíč Slovakia Teplá Abbey, Czechia Želiv Abbey, Czechia Jasov Monastery, Slovakia Brabantica Circary Averbode Abbey, Belgium Vejle, Denmark Brasschaat Priory, Belgium Grimbergen Abbey, Belgium Park Abbey, Belgium Postel Abbey, Belgium Tongerlo Abbey, Belgium Parroquia San Pablo, Chiguayante, Chile Berne Abbey, The Netherlands Priory of Essenburgh, Hierden Priory ‘De Schans’, Tilburg

Gallica Circary Priory La Cambre, Brussels Abbaye Notre-Dame de Leffe, Dinant St. Joseph's Priory, Saint-Constant, Canada Abbey of St. Michael, Frigolet, France Abbey of St. Martin, Mondaye, France Priory of St. Foy, Conques, France Prieuré Notre-Dame des Neiges, Laloubère, France La Lucerne Abbey Priory of Our Lady of the Assumption, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo Germanica Circary Hamborn Abbey, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Premomonstratensian Priory in Magdeburg Speinshart Abbey, Bavaria Windberg Abbey, Bavaria Roggenburg Abbey, Bavaria Stift Geras, Austria Stift Schlägl, Austria Stift Wilten, Tyrol Hungarica Circary Abbey of St. Michael the Archangel, Csorna, Hungary Gödöllő Canonry, Gödöllő, Hungary Saint Stephen Abbey, Oradea, Romania Portuguesa Circary Priory of St. Norbert, Itinga, Brazil Priory of Natal Pfarre Gatterhölzl, Vienna, Austria St Norbert Abbey, Jaú, Brazil Parish of São Paulo Montes Claros Priory Mirabela, priory parish Casa de Contagem

Discontinued

Stift Griffen, Carinthia Stift Pernegg, Lower Austria Bonne-Espérance Abbey, Belgium Cornillon Abbey, Belgium Floreffe Abbey, Belgium Furnes (Veurne) Abbey Leffe Abbey Ninove Abbey, Belgium Bellapais Abbey, Cyprus Hradisko Monastery, Czechia Børglum Abbey, Denmark Monastery of Bäckaskog, Skåne, 12th-century Denmark Monastery of Övedskloster, Skåne, 12th-century Denmark Monastery of Tommarp, Skåne, 12th-century Denmark Monastery of Vä, Skåne, 12th-century Denmark Ardenne Abbey, France L'Étanche Abbey, Lorraine, France Abbey of St John the Baptist, Falaise, France Cuissy Abbey, France Abbey of St. Martin, Laon, France Prémontré Abbey, France Pont-à-Mousson Abbey All Saints' Abbey, Germany Haus Meer, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Lorsch Abbey, Germany Obermarchtal Abbey, Germany Pöhlde Abbey, Germany Schussenried Abbey, Germany Steingaden Abbey, Germany Rot an der Rot Abbey, Germany Weissenau Abbey, Germany

Zsámbék Abbey, Hungary Holy Trinity Abbey, Lough Key, Ireland Kildermot Abbey, Ireland St. Antimo's Abbey, Italy St. Olav's Abbey, Tønsberg, Norway Monastery of Dragsmark, Bohuslän, 13th century Norway Šahy - Slovakia Żukowo - Poland Monastery of Santa María la Real in Aguilar de Campoo, Aguilar de Campoo, Spain Santa María de La Vid, La Vid y Barrios, Burgos (currently Augustinian), Spain Bellelay Abbey (Abbaye de Bellelay), Bellelay, Switzerland Gottstatt Abbey, Orpund, Switzerland Romainmôtier Abbey, Romainmôtier-Envy, Switzerland Rüti Monastery (Kloster Rüti) and Rüti Church, Switzerland

Alnwick Abbey, England Barlings Abbey, England Bayham Abbey, England Beauchief Abbey, England Beeleigh Abbey, England Blanchland Abbey, England Cockersand Abbey, England Coverham Abbey, England Corpus Christi Priory, England Croxton Abbey, England Dale Abbey, England Durford Abbey, England Easby Abbey, England Egglestone Abbey, England Hagnaby Abbey, England Halesowen Abbey, England Langley Abbey, England Lavendon Abbey, England Leiston Abbey, England Newbo Abbey, England Newsham Abbey, England Our Lady of England Priory, England St. Radegund's Abbey, England Shap Abbey, England Sulby Abbey, England Titchfield Abbey, England Torre Abbey, England Tupholme Abbey, England Welbeck Abbey, England Wendling Abbey, England West Langdon Abbey, England Dercongal Abbey, Scotland Dryburgh Abbey, Scotland Fearn Abbey, Scotland Soulseat Abbey, Scotland Tongland Abbey, Scotland Whithorn Priory, Scotland Talley Abbey ('Abaty Talyllychau'), Wales St. Moses the Black, Jackson, Mississippi, USAEngland

Notable members

• Robert John Cornell (1919–2009), Democratic U.S. Congressman from Wisconsin from 1975 to 1979 and professor of political science at St. Norbert College
• Prokop Diviš (1698–1765), Czech inventor
• Jan Druys (1568-1635), Flemish canon regular and abbot
• Juan de Galavís (1683–1739), Spanish archbishop in Latin America
• Charles-Hyacinthe Hugo (1667–1739), French historian and bishop
• Hermann Joseph (1150?–1241), German canon regular and mystic
• Johann Lohel (1549–1622), Bohemian prior who later became archbishop of Prague
• Werenfried van Straaten (1913–2003), Dutch priest and activist, known for his humanitarian work, particularly as founder of the international Catholic association Aid to the Church in Need
• Francis Wichmans (1596–1661), Belgian abbot, scholar, and noted theologian of his day
• Johann Zahn (1631–1707), German canon who wrote on the camera obscura and who invented an early camera

Norbertine saints

Norbertines celebrate "all Norbertine Saints and Blesseds" on November 13.

• Hermann Joseph von Steinfeld (feast day May 24)
• Norbert (died 1134, feast day June 6)
• Adrian and James of Middleburg, martyrs (died 1572, feast day July 9)
• Evermode of Ratzeburg (died 1178, feast day February 17)
• Frederick of Hallum (or of Mariengaarde) (died 1175, feast day February 4)
• Gilbert of Neuffontaines (or of Cappenberg) (died 1152, feast day October 26)
• Godfrey of Cappenberg (died 1127, feast day January 14)
• Isfrid (Isfried) of Ratzeburg (died 1204, feast day June 15),
• Ludolph of Ratzeburg (died 1250, feast day April 16)
• Siard of Mariengaarde (died 1230, feast day November 14)

Norbertine Blesseds

Norbertine Blesseds include:

• Beatrice of Engelport (died 1275, feast day March 12/13)
• Bronislava of Poland (or of Zwierzniec) (died 1259, feast day August 30)
• Gerlach of Valkenburg (died 1172, feast day January 5)
• Gertrude of Aldenberg (Altenburg), Abbess (died 1297, feast day August 13)
• Hugh of Fosse (died 1164, feast day February 10)
• Hroznata of Teplá (died 1217, feast day July 14)
• Jakob Kern of Geras (died 1924, feast day October 20)
• Oda of Bonne Rivreuille (died 1158, feast day April 20)
• Peter-Adrian Toulorge of Blanchelande, Martyr (died 1793, feast day October 13)
• Ricvera of Clastres (died 1136, feast day October 29)

Education

St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, United States, is the only institution of higher education sponsored by the Order. Elsewhere they also sponsor/operate schools or serve in pastoral care capacities at parish schools.

Schools founded or sponsored by the order include:

• Abbot Pennings High School, De Pere, Wisconsin, US (merged to form Notre Dame Academy)
• Archmere Academy, Claymont, Delaware, US
• Cardinal Gracias High School, Bandra, Maharashtra, India
• St. Michael's Preparatory School, Silverado, California, US
• St. Norbert College, Perth, Western Australia
• Saint Norbert Gymnasium (hu), Gödöllő, Hungary

Controversies

Northern Ireland's Historical Abuse Inquiry investigated reports that Brendan Smyth, a member of the Norbertine Order, was allowed to continue paedophilia for more than four decades, even after Smyth himself had admitted in 1994, the same year that he was jailed for his crimes, that "Over the years of religious life it could be that I have sexually abused between 50 and 100 children. That number could even be doubled or perhaps even more." Reviewers of the case agree that there was a deliberate plot to conceal Smyth's behaviour, incompetence by his superiors at Kilnacrott Abbey.

See also

• List of Premonstratensian monasteries in France
• Category:Premonstratensian monasteries in England

Bibliography

Notes

Bibliography

• Wolfgang Grassl, Culture of Place: An Intellectual Profile of the Premonstratensian Order. Nordhausen: Bautz, 2012.

External links

• Premonstratensian Home Page
• St Norbert College, Catholic Secondary School in the Norbertine Tradition)
• St. Norbert College - Private Catholic College (Norbertine Tradition)
• Archmere Academy - Catholic School in the Norbertine Tradition
• Archmere Alumni Association
• The website for St. Michael's Abbey of the Norbertine Fathers in Silverado, California
• The website of the Norbertine Community of Our Lady of England Priory, Storrington, West Sussex, UK
• Norbertines of Chelmsford, UK
• Center for Norbertine Studies, St. Norbert College, De Pere, Wisconsin