THE SOLEMNITY OF ST. NORBERT
Archbishop and Founder of the
Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré
June 6
Norbert was born of noble parents around the year 1080 in Xanten (northern Rhineland). Already as a small child he was presented to the Cathedral Chapter of St. Victor in Xanten where he was later ordained subdeacon. Emperor Henry V soon took note of Norbert's gifts and charm and called him into his personal service at the imperial court. There Norbert led a worldly lifestyle. In the year 1115, Norbert was thrown from his horse and nearly killed in a thunderstorm. He interpreted this as an invitation to repent and immediately began to lead the life of a penitent, barefoot and dressed in sheepskin. Ordained to the diaconate and priesthood on one and the same day by Archbishop Frederick of Cologne, he wandered about the countryside, preaching the word of God and railing against the abuses of the clergy. Criticized and persecuted by members of the hierarchy, Norbert sought and obtained approval for his preaching from Pope Gelasius II and later, Pope Calixtus II. But Callixtus also encouraged him to settle and found a community in the diocese of Laon in northern France. There, in the desolate valley wilderness of Prémontré, Norbert laid the foundations for his religious Order. He chose the rule of St. Augustine as the guiding light for the new community, becoming one of the most avid Augustinian reformers of the day. The community was marked by its austerity of life, its poverty, and its intense liturgical life of prayer and, above all, its complete fidelity to the ideal of community life as depicted in the Augustinian rule. In the meantime, Norbert continued to preach and attracted many men and women to the lifestyle of his new Order. On July 25, 1126, Norbert was ordained archbishop of Magdeburg and relinquished the leadership of his Order to begin the work of shepherding the vast diocese on the northeastern frontier of the German Empire. During his years as archbishop Norbert fought strenuously for the freedom of the church against secular princes and proved himself an ardent champion of the cause of the Roman Pontiff. He was instrumental in the downfall of the anti-pope Anacletus II and the return of Pope Innocent II to his throne. Weakened by his travels and labors, and probably by malaria contracted at Rome, Norbert returned to Magdeburg where he died on June 6, 1134. He is pictured with the double barred staff and pallium of an archbishop and with a chalice which recalls his Eucharist-centered spirituality.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
The Lord says this: “I am going
to visit my flock and I mean
to raise up one shepherd and
put him in charge of them.
I, Yahweh, will be their God,
and my servant shall be their rule in their midst.”
OPENING PRAYER
Lord God, through his preaching,
his founding of our Order,
and his work as archbishop of Magdeburg,
St. Norbert became a man after your own heart.
Help us, his followers,
to be faithful to the way of life he taught us
and, like him,
to preach the good news
with zeal to the entire world.
Grant this through our
Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Lord, grant that we who approach your altar
may have the same deep devotion
which inflamed the heart of Saint Norbert,
so that in purity of heart and love
we may make this offering pleasing to you.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
PREFACE
Priest: The Lord be with you.
people: And also with you.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.
You gave us our holy father Norbert,
filled with the Holy Spirit,
a preacher of your Word in the Church,
and a witness to the Catholic Faith,
as a builder of peace and unity.
Grant that he, by the great example he gave to all,
might fan into a flame the spark of love
which lies dormant in the hearts of many.
Norbert was your good shepherd,
living radically your evangelical counsels,
and by living the Apostolic way of life
he added many to those who are your followers.
Norbert gathered many disciples to himself
who wished to follow your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Together with him, we celebrate on earth
with the heavenly host,
calling out to you in unending song.
Holy, Holy, Holy…
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
This is the faithful and wise steward
whom the master has placed over
his household to give them their allowance
of food at the proper time.
PRAYER AFTER THE BLESSING
We, although many,
make up the one Body of Christ.
May we become one in heart and mind, Lord,
through the intercession
of our Holy Father Norbert.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
SOLEMN BLESSING
May the Lord God, who today
has called blessed Norbert to eternal glory,
bless you through the intercession
of his glorious merits. Amen.
May God, as your Father,
give you the grace to live an Apostolic Life,
always walking
in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. Amen.
We have been blessed with many gifts in this life;
may we attain eternal glory when the Lord comes. Amen.
May Almighty God bless you, …
READINGS
1. Sirach 50: 5-12: 6-10; or 2Corinthians 12: 1-10
2. Psalm 109: 1-2, 3-4
Response: “You are a priest forever, according to the Order of Melchesadech.”
3. Romans 12: 1-8
4. Alleluia, Alleluia! Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the Kingdom to mere children. Alleluia, Alleluia!
5. Gospel: Matthew 25: 14-30; or Matthew 5: 1-12a
