The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré (), also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines and, in

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

and

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the s ...

, as the White Canons (from the colour of their

habit A habit (or wont as a humorous and formal term) is a routine of behavior that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously.

), is a

religious order A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious pract ...

canons regular Canons regular are priests who live in community under a rule ( and canon in greek) and are generally organised into religious orders, differing from both secular canons and other forms of religious life, such as clerics regular, designated by ...

of the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwide . It is am ...

founded in Prémontré near

Laon Laon () is a city in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. History Early history The holy district of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain, has always held strategic importance. ...

in 1120 by

Norbert of Xanten Norbert of Xanten, O. Praem (c. 1075 – 6 June 1134) (Xanten-Magdeburg), also known as Norbert Gennep, was a bishop of the Catholic Church, founder of the Premonstratensian order of canons regular, and is venerated as a saint. Norbert was can ...

, who later became

Archbishop of Magdeburg The Archbishopric of Magdeburg was a Roman Catholic archdiocese (969–1552) and Prince-Archbishopric (1180–1680) of the Holy Roman Empire centered on the city of Magdeburg on the Elbe River. Planned since 955 and established in 968, the Rom ...

. Premonstratensians are designated by ''OPraem'' (''Ordo Praemonstratensis'') following their name. Norbert was a friend of

Bernard of Clairvaux Bernard of Clairvaux, O. Cist. ( la, Bernardus Claraevallensis; 109020 August 1153), venerated as Saint Bernard, was an abbot, mystic, co-founder of the Knights Templars, and a major leader in the reformation of the Benedictine Order through t ...

and was largely influenced by the

Cistercian The Cistercians, () officially the Order of Cistercians ( la, (Sacer) Ordo Cisterciensis, abbreviated as OCist or SOCist), are a Catholic religious order of monks and nuns that branched off from the Benedictines and follow the Rule of Saint B ...

ideals as to both the manner of life and the government of his order. As the Premonstratensians are not

monk A monk (, from el, μοναχός, ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a person who practices religious asceticism by monastic living, either alone or with any number of other monks. A monk may be a person who decides to dedic ...

s 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

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; in 1120 he was working in the now-extinct

Ancient Diocese of Laon The diocese of Laon in the present-day département of Aisne, was a Catholic diocese for around 1300 years, up to the French Revolution. Its seat was in Laon, France, with the Laon Cathedral. From early in the 13th century, the bishop of Laon wa ...

, in

Picardy Picardy (; Picard and french: Picardie, , ) is a historical territory and a former administrative region of France. Since 1 January 2016, it has been part of the new region of Hauts-de-France. It is located in the northern part of France. Hist ...

, northeastern

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. 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 The Rule of Saint Augustine, written about the year 400, is a brief document divided into eight chapters and serves as an outline for religious life lived in community. It is the oldest monastic rule in the Western Church. The rule, developed ...

, 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 Pope Honorius II (9 February 1060 – 13 February 1130), born Lamberto Scannabecchi,Levillain, pg. 731 was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 21 December 1124 to his death in 1130. Although from a humble background, ...

, 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 Wends ( ang, Winedas ; non, Vindar; german: Wenden , ; da, vendere; sv, vender; pl, Wendowie, cz, Wendové) is a historical name for Slavs living near Germanic settlement areas. It refers not to a homogeneous people, but to various people ...

and the bringing of

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global popula ...

to the territories around the

Elbe The Elbe (; cs, Labe ; nds, Ilv or ''Elv''; Upper and dsb, Łobjo) is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Giant Mountains of the northern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia (western half of the Czech Re ...

and the

Oder The Oder ( , ; Czech, Lower Sorbian and ; ) is a river in Central Europe. It is Poland's second-longest river in total length and third-longest within its borders after the Vistula and Warta. The Oder rises in the Czech Republic and flows ...

. 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 Lincoln () is a cathedral city, a non-metropolitan district, and the county town of Lincolnshire, England. In the 2021 Census, the Lincoln district had a population of 103,813. The 2011 census gave the urban area of Lincoln, including North ...

; before the dissolution under

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...

there were 35 houses. Soon after their arrival in England, they founded

Dryburgh Abbey Dryburgh Abbey, near Dryburgh on the banks of the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders, was nominally founded on 10 November (Martinmas) 1150 in an agreement between Hugh de Morville, Constable of Scotland, and the Premonstratensian canons regu ...

in the Borders area of

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...

, which was followed by other communities at

Whithorn Priory Whithorn Priory was a medieval Scottish monastery that also served as a cathedral, located at 6 Bruce Street in Whithorn, Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway (54.7357N, 4.415954W; OS grid reference NX445405). History The priory was founded ab ...

, Dercongal Abbey and

Tongland Abbey Tungland or Tongland Abbey was a Premonstratensian monastic community located in Tongland in the historical county of Kirkcudbrightshire in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It was probably founded circa 1218 by Alan, Lord of Galloway, althoug ...

all in the Borders area, as well as

Fearn Abbey Fearn Abbey – known as "The Lamp of the North" – has its origins in one of Scotland's oldest pre-Reformation church buildings. Part of the Church of Scotland and located to the southeast of Tain, Ross-shire, it continues as an activ ...

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 The Habsburg monarchy (german: Habsburgermonarchie, ), also known as the Danubian monarchy (german: Donaumonarchie, ), or Habsburg Empire (german: Habsburgerreich, ), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities ...

. However, there was something of a resurgence, and at the start of the twentieth century there were 20 monasteries and 1000 priests. , 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 Conques (; Languedocien: ''Concas'') is a former commune in the Aveyron department in Southern France, in the Occitania region. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Conques-en-Rouergue. Geography The village is located a ...

) and, like many religious houses, have often run schools on a variety of scales (Averbode Abbey, Berne Abbey,

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...

). 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 Kinshasa (; ; ln, Kinsásá), formerly Léopoldville ( nl, Leopoldstad), is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Once a site of fishing and trading villages situated along the Congo River, Kinshasa is now one of ...

Postel Abbey Postel Abbey is a Premonstratensian abbey in the Belgian municipality of Mol in the province of Antwerp. History In 1138, Premonstratensian canons from Floreffe Abbey founded the monastery at Postel as a dependent priory. In 1613, Postel becam ...

), forestry ( Schlägl Abbey,

Geras Abbey Geras Abbey (''Stift Geras'') is a Premonstratensian monastery in Geras in Lower Austria. Since 1783, it has also owned the premises of the former Pernegg Abbey nearby. History The abbey was founded in 1153 as a daughter house of Seelau Abbey ...

Slovakia Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the ...

), 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 Green Bay is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The county seat of Brown County, it is at the head of Green Bay (known locally as "the bay of Green Bay"), a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It is above sea le ...

, owning WBAY television and radio stations until the mid-1970s. The Nobertines 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

JRKRUK 20130606 NORBERTANKI IMBRAMOWICE IMG 9376

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

nun A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 599. The term is o ...

s. Like the Norbertine communities for men, those for women are autonomous. Unusually, within the religious communities of the

, 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 In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

, the Premonstratensians even had a few

double monasteries A double monastery (also dual monastery or double house) is a monastery combining separate communities of monks and of nuns, joined in one institution to share one church and other facilities. The practice is believed to have started in the East a ...

, 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 Pope Pius V ( it, Pio V; 17 January 1504 – 1 May 1572), born Antonio Ghislieri (from 1518 called Michele Ghislieri, O.P.), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 January 1566 to his death in May 1572. He is 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 The Ambrosian Rite is a Catholic Western liturgical rite, named after Saint Ambrose, a bishop of Milan in the fourth century, which differs from the Roman Rite. It is used by some five million Catholics in the greater part of the Archdiocese ...

. Another unique practice of the Premonstratensian Rite was the celebration of a daily votive Mass in honor of the

Virgin Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of ...

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 A chapter ( la, capitulum or ') is one of several bodies of clergy in Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, Anglican, and Nordic Lutheran churches or their gatherings. Name The name derives from the habit of convening monks or canons for the re ...

, which is held every six years. The general Chapter includes representatives from both male and female communities. The head of the Order, termed

Abbot Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the male head of a monastery in various Western religious traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not the head of a monastery. Th ...

General, resides in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, 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, Czech Republic, 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 An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of jurisdiction in Christian Churches with traditional hierarchical structure, including Western Christianity and Eastern Christianity. In general, an ecclesiastical province consists of sev ...

): * Anglica Circary: *St Norbert Priory, Queens Park, Perth, Australia * St. Philip's Priory, Chelmsford, England *Holy Trinity Abbey, Kilnacrott, Ireland *

St. Norbert Abbey St. Norbert Abbey is a Roman Catholic monastery of Canons Regular of Premontre, located in De Pere, Wisconsin. The Abbey is named after Saint Norbert of Xanten (c. 1180–1134), the founder of the order, after whom, members are known as, "Norbe ...

, 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 *St. Moses the Black, Jackson, Mississippi, 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 * Quasi-Cannonry of Kerala, India * Cannonry of Manathawady, India **St. Norbert's Priory, Cape Town, South Africa * St. Norbert Priory, Tamil Nadu, India * Bohemica Circary * Nová Říše Monastery, Czech Republic * Strahov Monastery, Czech Republic **Canonry in Holíč Slovakia *

Teplá Abbey Teplá Abbey ( cs, Klášter Teplá; german: Stift Tepl) is a Premonstratensian abbey in Teplá in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. It is included in the Archdiocese of Prague. History Teplá Abbey was founded in 1193 by the ble ...

, Czech Republic * Želiv Abbey, Czech Republic *

Jasov Jasov (german: Joß; hu, Jászó) is a small town and municipality in Košice-okolie District in the Kosice Region of eastern Slovakia. It is one of several towns in Bodva Valley. Other towns in Bodva Valley include: Lucia Bania, Medzev ( ...

Monastery, Slovakia * Brabantica Circary * Averbode Abbey, Belgium **Vejle, Denmark **Brasschaat Priory, Belgium *

Grimbergen Abbey Grimbergen Abbey is a Premonstratensian monastery in Grimbergen, Flemish Brabant, Belgium, established in 1128 in the place of an earlier foundation of Augustinian Canons. The abbey itself was dissolved in 1796 in the aftermath of the Frenc ...

, Belgium * Park Abbey, Belgium *

, 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 * 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 Bonne-Espérance Abbey was a Premonstratensian abbey that existed from 1130 to the end of the 18th century, located in Vellereille-les-Brayeux in the Walloon municipality of Estinnes, province of Hainaut, Diocese of Tournai, in present-day Belgiu ...

, Belgium * Cornillon Abbey, Belgium *

Floreffe Abbey Floreffe Abbey is a former Premonstratensian monastery, the second of the order to be founded, situated in Wallonia on the Sambre at Floreffe, about 11 km southwest of Namur, Belgium. History When Norbert of Xanten, founder of the Premonstra ...

, Belgium *Furnes (Veurne) Abbey * Leffe Abbey * Ninove Abbey, Belgium *

Bellapais Abbey Bellapais Abbey (also spelled Bellapaïs) is the ruin of a monastery built by Canons Regular in the 13th century on the northern side of the small village of Bellapais, now in Turkish- controlled Northern Cyprus, about five kilometres from the t ...

, Cyprus *

Hradisko Monastery Hradisko Monastery or Monastery Hradisko (Czech language: ''Klášter Hradisko'' or ''Klášterní Hradisko'', or simply ''Hradiště''; colloquially also: ''Moravský Escorial'', English: ''Castle Monastery'' or ''Hillfort Monastery'') is a f ...

, Czech Republic *

Børglum Abbey Børglum Abbey was an important Premonstratensian abbey of medieval Denmark, located in Børglum parish, in the commune of Hjørring, approximately five kilometers east of Løkken in north central Jutland (Region Nordjylland) from the 12th centu ...

, Denmark * Monastery of Bäckaskog,

Skåne Scania, also known by its native name of Skåne (, ), is the southernmost of the historical provinces (''landskap'') of Sweden. Located in the south tip of the geographical region of Götaland, the province is roughly conterminous with Skån ...

, 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 :''not to be confused with the Cistercian L'Étanche Abbey in the Vosges department'' L'Étanche Abbey, Lorraine, is a former Premonstratensian monastery founded in the 12th century, the ruins of which are near the modern village of Deuxnouds-au ...

, France *

Abbey of St John the Baptist, Falaise The Abbey of St John the Baptist (French: ''Abbaye Saint-Jean de Falaise''), in the diocese of Séez, in Falaise, Normandy, was an Augustinian abbey for Premonstratensian Canons and hospital founded in 1127 by ''Goinfrid'', (French: ''Gonfroy'',M ...

, France * Cuissy Abbey, France * Abbey of St. Martin, Laon, France * Prémontré Abbey, France * Pont-à-Mousson Abbey * All Saints' Abbey, Germany * , North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany *

Lorsch Abbey Lorsch Abbey, otherwise the Imperial Abbey of Lorsch (german: Reichsabtei Lorsch; la, Laureshamense Monasterium or ''Laurissa''), is a former Imperial abbey in Lorsch, Germany, about east of Worms. It was one of the most renowned monasteries ...

, Germany * Obermarchtal Abbey, Germany * Pöhlde Abbey, Germany * Schussenried Abbey, Germany *

Steingaden Abbey Steingaden Abbey (German: ''Kloster Steingaden'') was a Premonstratensian monastery in Steingaden in Bavaria, Germany. History Dedicated to John the Baptist, the abbey was founded in 1147 as a Premonstratensian house by Welf VI, third son of ...

, Germany *

Rot an der Rot Abbey Rot an der Rot Abbey (also referred to as ''Roth'', ''Münchroth'', ''Münchenroth'', ''Mönchroth'' or ''Mönchsroth'') was a Premonstratensian monastery in Rot an der Rot in Upper Swabia, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was the first Premonstrat ...

, Germany *

Weissenau Abbey Weissenau Abbey (German: ''Kloster Weißenau'', ''Reichsstift Weißenau'') was an Imperial abbey (''Reichsabtei'') of the Holy Roman Empire located near Ravensburg in the Swabian Circle. The abbey, a Premonstratensian monastery, was an Imperial Est ...

, Germany * Zsámbék Abbey, Hungary * Holy Trinity Abbey, Lough Key, Ireland *

Kildermot Abbey Kildermot Abbey is a former Premonstratensian Priory and National Monument located in County Mayo, Ireland. Location Kildermot Abbey is located on the west bank of Ballymore Lough, 1 km northwest of Attymass. History Kildermot Abbey was ...

, Ireland *

St. Antimo's Abbey The Abbey of Sant'Antimo, it, Abbazia di Sant'Antimo, is a former Benedictine monastery located in Castelnuovo dell'Abate, in the comune of Montalcino, Tuscany, central Italy. It is approximately 10 km from Montalcino about 9 km from ...

, Italy * St. Olav's Abbey, Tønsberg, Norway * Monastery of Dragsmark,

Bohuslän Bohuslän (; da, Bohuslen; no, Båhuslen) is a Swedish province in Götaland, on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland to the northeast, Västergötland to the southeast, the Skagerrak arm of the North ...

, 13th century Norway *

Żukowo Żukowo ( csb, Żukòwò, german: Zuckau, la, Sucovia) is a town in the Kartuzy County, in the Pomeranian Voivodeship of northern Poland, in the geographical region of Kashubia, with 6,236 inhabitants (2005). It is located along the Radunia r ...

- Poland * Monastery of Santa María la Real in Aguilar de Campoo,

Aguilar de Campoo Aguilar de Campoo () is a town and municipality of Spain located in the province of Palencia, autonomous community of Castile and León. It is close to the River Pisuerga. Its 2011 population is 7741. It is one of the locations of the St. James' ...

, Spain * Santa María de La Vid, La Vid y Barrios, Burgos (currently Augustinian), Spain *

Bellelay Abbey Bellelay Abbey is a former Premonstratensian monastery in the Bernese Jura in Switzerland, now a psychiatric clinic. It is a heritage site of national significance and the entire former Abbey complex is part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage S ...

(Abbaye de Bellelay),

Bellelay Saicourt is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It comprises the localities of Le Fuet, Bellelay, La Bottiere and Montbautier. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura ('' ...

, Switzerland * Gottstatt Abbey,

Orpund Orpund is a municipality in the Biel/Bienne administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. History Orpund is first mentioned in 1255 as ''Orpunt''. The municipality was formerly known by its unknown name ''er Orpondes'', howev ...

, Switzerland *

Romainmôtier Abbey Romainmôtier is a village and former municipality in the district of Orbe in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. In 1970 the municipality was merged with the neighboring municipality Envy to form a new and larger municipality Romainmôtier-Envy R ...

, Romainmôtier-Envy, Switzerland *

Rüti Abbey Rüti, which comes from the Old High German word , meaning " clearing", is a popular name for towns in the German speaking part of Switzerland. It can refer to the following: *Rüti, Glarus in Glarus *Rüti, Zürich Rüti (sometimes written as ' ...

(Kloster Rüti) and

Rüti Church Rüti, which comes from the Old High German word , meaning " clearing", is a popular name for towns in the German speaking part of Switzerland. It can refer to the following: *Rüti, Glarus in Glarus * Rüti, Zürich in Zürich *: Rüti Reformed C ...

, Switzerland * Alnwick Abbey, England *

Barlings Abbey Barlings Abbey, Lincolnshire, was a Premonstratensian monastery in England, founded in 1154, as a daughter house of the Abbey of St. Mary and St. Martial in Newsham. History Its founder was Ralph de Haye, son of the constable of Lincoln Castle, ...

, England * Bayham Abbey, England *

Beauchief Abbey Beauchief Abbey is a medieval monastic house now serving as a parish church in the southern suburbs of Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serv ...

, England * Beeleigh Abbey, England *

Blanchland Abbey Blanchland Abbey at Blanchland, in the English county of Northumberland, was founded as a premonstratensian priory in 1165 by Walter de Bolbec II, and was a daughter house of Croxton Abbey in Leicestershire. It became an abbey in the late 13th ...

, England *

Cockersand Abbey Cockersand Abbey is a former abbey and former civil parish near Cockerham in the City of Lancaster district of Lancashire, England. It is situated near the mouth of the River Cocker. History It was founded before 1184 as the Hospital of St Ma ...

, England * Coverham Abbey, England *

Croxton Abbey Croxton Abbey, near Croxton Kerrial, Leicestershire, was a Premonstratensian monastery founded by William I, Count of Boulogne. History Croxton Abbey was founded by William, Count of Boulogne and Mortain, who donated the land for the abbey ...

, England * Dale Abbey, England *

Durford Abbey Dureford Abbey, in Sussex, England, was a Premonstratensian monastery. It was founded by Henry Hussey who in 1161 granted land to the abbot of Welbeck Abbey Welbeck Abbey in the Dukeries in North Nottinghamshire was the site of a monastery ...

, England * Easby Abbey, England *

Egglestone Abbey Egglestone Abbey is a ruined Premonstratensian abbey on the southern (Yorkshire) bank of the River Tees, in northern England, south-east of Barnard Castle. The abbey was historically within the North Riding of Yorkshire, but since 1974 has ...

, England *

Hagnaby Abbey Hagnaby Abbey was an abbey and former priory in Hagnaby, Lincolnshire, England. It was founded as a house for Premonstratensian canons around 1175, by Agnes, widow of Herbert de Orreby. The priory was a dependency of Welbeck Abbey and named in ...

, England *

Halesowen Abbey Halesowen Abbey was a Premonstratensian abbey in Halesowen, England of which only ruins remain. Founded by Peter des Roches with a grant of land from King John, the abbey's official year of inauguration was 1218. It acquired two daughter abbey ...

, England * Langley Abbey, England *

Lavendon Abbey Lavendon Abbey was a Premonstratensian abbey near Lavendon in Buckinghamshire, England. The abbey was established by John de Bidun between 1154 and 1158 and dedicated to John the Baptist. Bidun's donations to the abbey, together with those of Sib ...

, England * Leiston Abbey, England *

Newbo Abbey Newbo Abbey was a Premonstratensian house of canons regular in Lincolnshire, England, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. In the Middle Ages, Lincolnshire was one of the most densely populated parts of England. Within the historical county there ...

, England *

Newsham Abbey Newsham Abbey was an abbey in Newsham, a small hamlet north of Brocklesby village in Lincolnshire, England. Founded by Peter of Gousla in 1143, Newsham was a daughter house of the Abbey of Licques, near Calais, and the first Premonstratensian hou ...

, England *

Our Lady of England Priory Our Lady of England Priory in Storrington, West Sussex, England is the former home of Roman Catholic priests belonging to a Community of Canons Regular of Prémontré, (or 'Premonstratensians') after the place where they were founded in Fran ...

, England * St. Radegund's Abbey, England *

Shap Abbey Shap Abbey was a religious house of the Premonstratensian order of Canons regular situated on the western bank of the River Lowther in the civil parish of Shap Rural, around from the village of Shap, in the Eden District of Cumbria, England. ...

, England *

Sulby Abbey Sulby Abbey was a Premonstratensian house in Northamptonshire, England, founded in 1155 as daughter house of the Abbey of St. Mary and St. Martial in Newsham. History The abbey of Sulby was founded about the year 1155 for canons of the Prem ...

, England * Titchfield Abbey, England *

Torre Abbey Torre Abbey is a historic building and art gallery in Torquay, Devon, which lies in the South West of England. It was founded in 1196 as a monastery for Premonstratensian canons, and is now the best-preserved medieval monastery in Devon and C ...

, England *

Tupholme Abbey Tupholme Abbey was a Premonstratensian abbey close to the River Witham some east of the city of Lincoln, England. The Witham valley in Lincolnshire is notable for its high concentration of monasteries—there were six on the east bank and ...

, England *

Welbeck Abbey Welbeck Abbey in the Dukeries in North Nottinghamshire was the site of a monastery belonging to the Premonstratensian order in England and after the Dissolution of the Monasteries, a country house residence of the Dukes of Portland. It is o ...

, England * Wendling Abbey, England * West Langdon Abbey, England * Dercongal Abbey, Scotland *

, Scotland *

Soulseat Abbey Saulseat or Soulseat Abbey was a Premonstratensian monastic community located in Wigtownshire, Galloway, in the Gaelic-speaking south-west of Scotland. History There is some evidence that Soulseat Abbey is ''Viride Stagnum'' ("green loch"), ...

, Scotland *

, Scotland * Talley Abbey ('Abaty Talyllychau'), Wales

Notable members

* Robert John Cornell (1919–2009), Democratic U.S. Congressman from

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

from 1975 to 1979 and professor of

political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and ...

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 Hermann Joseph, (c. 11507 April 1241) was a German Premonstratensian canon regular and mystic. Never formally canonized, in 1958 his status as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church was formally recognized by Pope Pius XII. Life Hermann was born ...

(1150?–1241), German canon regular and mystic *

Johann Lohel Johann Lohelius (1549 – November 2, 1622), better known as Johann Lohel, was the archbishop of Prague from September 18, 1612 until his death. Early life Born in 1549 in a poor family, Johann was piously brought up. At fifteen he was engaged as ...

(1549–1622), Bohemian prior who later became archbishop of Prague *

Werenfried van Straaten Werenfried van Straaten, born Philippus Johannes Hendricus van Straaten O. Praem. (17 January 1913 – 31 January 2003), was a Dutch Catholic priest and social activist. He was a Premonstratensian priest expatriate in Germany, who became know ...

(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 Francis Wichmans (1596–1661), in religion Augustinus, was a Premonstratensian spiritual author, missionary, and abbot of Tongerlo Abbey. In the last capacity he sat in the First Estate of the States of Brabant. Life Wichmans was born Antwerp on ...

(1596–1661), Belgian abbot, scholar, and noted theologian of his day * Johann Zahn (1631–1707),

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

canon who wrote on the

camera obscura A camera obscura (; ) is a darkened room with a small hole or lens at one side through which an image is projected onto a wall or table opposite the hole. ''Camera obscura'' can also refer to analogous constructions such as a box or tent in w ...

and who invented an early

camera A camera is an optical instrument that can capture an image. Most cameras can capture 2D images, with some more advanced models being able to capture 3D images. At a basic level, most cameras consist of sealed boxes (the camera body), with ...

Norbertine Saints

*Hermann Joseph von Steinfeld (feast May 24) *Norbert (+1134, f. Jun. 6) *Adrian and James of Middleburg, martyrs (+1572, f Jul. 9) * Evermode of Ratzeburg (+1178, f. Feb. 17) *

Frederick of Hallum Saint Frederick of Hallum ( West Frisian: Freark fan Hallum) (c. 1113 – March 5, 1175) was a Premonstratensian priest and regular canon, founder and first abbot of Mariengaarde Abbey in Friesland in the Netherlands. He was also the parish pries ...

(or of Mariengaarde) (+1175, f. Feb. 4) *Gilbert of Neuffontaines (or of Cappenberg) (+1152, f. Oct. 26) *Godfrey of Cappenberg (+1127, f. Jan. 14) * Isfrid (Isfried) of Ratzeburg (+1204, f. Jun. 15), *

Ludolph of Ratzeburg Ludolph of Ratzeburg was a Premonstratensian Bishop of Ratzeburg. Religious life In 1236, Ludolph was appointed to the see of the newly formed Prince-Bishopric of Ratzeburg The Prince-Bishopric of Ratzeburg (german: Fürstbistum Ratzeburg) was a ...

(+1250, f. April 16) *Siard of Mariengaarde (+1230, f. Nov. 14). Norbertine Blesseds include Beatrice of Engelport (+1275, f. Mar. 12/13)

Bronislava of Poland Blessed Bronislava ( Polish: ''Bronisława''; ''c.'' 1204–1259) was a Polish nun of the Premonstratensian Order. She is beatified in the Roman Catholic Church. Early life Bronislava was born at Kamień, Włodawa County, in eastern Pola ...

(or of Zwierzniec) (+1259, f. Aug. 30),

Gerlach Gerlach is a male forename of Germanic origin, variations of which exist in many Germanic and Romance languages. Like many other early Germanic names, it is dithematic, consisting of two meaningful constituents put together. In this case, those ...

of Valkenburg (+1172, Jan. 5), Gertrude of Aldenberg (Altenburg), Abbess (+1297, f. Aug. 13), Hugh of Fosse (+1164, f. Feb. 10), Hroznata of Teplá (+1217, f. Jul. 14), Jakob Kern of Geras (+1924, f. Oct. 20), Oda of Bonne Rivreuille (+1158, f. Apr. 20), Peter-Adrian Toulorge of Blanchelande, Martyr (+1793, f. Oct. 13), and Ricvera of Clastres (+1136, f. Oct. 29). Norbertines celebrate "all Norbertine Saints and Blesseds" on Nov. 13.

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 Archmere Academy is a private Roman Catholic college preparatory school located in Claymont, Delaware, United States. 514 students were enrolled for the 202021 academic year. The academy is co-educational and is run independently within the Rom ...

Claymont, Delaware Claymont is a census-designated place (CDP) in New Castle County, Delaware. The estimated 2017 population of the 19703 ZIP code, which Claymont encompasses, was 15,292. History The community now known as Claymont started on the banks of Naamans ...

, US * Cardinal Gracias High School,

Bandra Bandra ( æːɳɖɾa also known as Vandre ( �aːn̪d̪ɾe is an upscale coastal suburb located in Mumbai (Bombay) area of the Konkan division, Maharashtra, India. The suburb is located to the immediate north of River Mithi, which separates B ...

Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the second-most populous state in India and the second-most populous country subdi ...

, India * St. Michael's Preparatory School,

Silverado, California Silverado is an unincorporated community in Silverado Canyon, which is located in the Santa Ana Mountains in eastern Orange County, California. Portions of the town sit on a former Mexican land grant Rancho Lomas de Santiago. Silverado is loc ...

, US * St. Norbert College,

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to t ...

*Saint Norbert Gymnasium ( hu), Gödöllő,

Hungary Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Cr ...

Controversies

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label=Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is #Descriptions, variously described as ...

's Historical Abuse Inquiry investigated reports that

Brendan Smyth Brendan Smyth O.Praem (8 June 1927 – 22 August 1997) was a Catholic priest from Belfast, Northern Ireland, who became notorious as a child molester, using his position in the Catholic Church to obtain access to his victims. During a period ...

, 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.

References

;Notes ;Bibliography *Wolfgang Grassl, ''Culture of Place: An Intellectual Profile of the Premonstratensian Order''. Nordhausen: Bautz, 2012.

External links

Premonstratensian Home PageSt Norbert College, Catholic Secondary School in the Norbertine Tradition)St. Norbert College - Private Catholic College (Norbertine Tradition)Archmere Academy - Catholic School in the Norbertine TraditionArchmere Alumni AssociationThe website for St. Michael's Abbey of the Norbertine Fathers in Silverado, CaliforniaThe website of the Norbertine Community of Our Lady of England Priory, Storrington, West Sussex, UKNorbertines of Chelmsford, UKCenter for Norbertine Studies, St. Norbert College, De Pere, Wisconsin
{{Authority control * 1120 establishments in Europe Religious organizations established in the 1120s Christian religious orders established in the 12th century

History

Canonesses

Premonstratensian Rite

Structure

Abbeys

Discontinued

Notable members

Norbertine Saints

Education

Controversies

See also

References

External links