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 dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

, 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 practi ...

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 a ...

of the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

founded in

Prémontré Prémontré () is a commune in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Population Sights The remains of Prémontré Abbey, the mother house of the Premonstratensian Order, are located in Prémontré. See also * Communes ...

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 ...

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 Roman ...

. 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 ...

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 ...

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 dedica ...

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

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

; 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. Hi ...

, northeastern

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. 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 b ...

, 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 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 thr ...

. 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 Lincoln Urban Area, urban area of Lincoln, ...

; 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 in the Borders area of Scotland, which was followed by other communities at Whithorn Priory, Dercongal Abbey and

Tongland Abbey Tungland or Tongland Abbey was a Premonstratensians, 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 ...

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 acti ...

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 dialect, Languedocien: ''Concas'') is a former Communes of France, commune in the Aveyron Departments of France, department in Southern France, in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitania Regions of France, region. ...

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

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

). 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 o ...

, Postel Abbey), forestry (

Schlägl Abbey Schlägl is a town and a former municipality in Rohrbach District in the Austrian state of Upper Austria. On 1 May 2015 Schlägl municipality was merged with Aigen im Mühlkreis to form Aigen-Schlägl municipality. As of 1 January 2018, populati ...

, Geras Abbey, Slovakia), and cheese-making (Postel Abbey). They have also entered agreements with breweries (Tongerlo Abbey, Postel Abbey, Park Abbey, Leffe,

Grimbergen Grimbergen () is a municipality in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant, 10 km north of the capital Brussels. It comprises the towns of Beigem, Grimbergen, Humbeek, and Strombeek-Bever. In 2017, it had a population of 37,030 and an area ...

) 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 lev ...

, 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 nuns. 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, 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, 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): * Anglica Circary: *St Norbert Priory, Queens Park, Perth, Australia *

St. Philip's Priory St. Philip's Priory situated on New London Road in Chelmsford, Essex, UK was a Premonstratensian priory of canons regular. It was dedicated to Our Lady Queen of Sorrows and St. Philip Benizi. In the summer of 2022, the canonry relocated to London, ...

, 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, "Norber ...

, 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 bles ...

, Czech Republic * Želiv Abbey, Czech Republic * 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 * 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 Mont Cornillon Abbey (''L'Abbaye du Mont-Cornillon'' in French language, French) was a Premonstratensian monastery which occupied a site in Wallonia close to Liège, Belgium. In 1288 the abbey having moved to a new location, it became known as Beau ...

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

Ninove Abbey Ninove Abbey (Dutch: ''Abdij van Sint-Cornelius en Sint-Cyprianus'') was a monastery of the Premonstratensian Order in the center of Ninove, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium. Only the abbey church now remains. The parish church at Ninove ...

, 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 ...

, Cyprus * Hradisko Monastery, 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 Skåne C ...

, 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-aux ...

, 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'',Mér ...

, France * Cuissy Abbey, France *

Abbey of St. Martin, Laon The Abbey of St. Martin, Laon, established in 1124 in Laon in the modern department of Aisne in northern France, was one of the earliest foundations of the Premonstratensian Order. Along with Cuissy Abbey and Floreffe Abbey it counted as one of the ...

, France * Prémontré Abbey, France * Pont-à-Mousson Abbey * All Saints' Abbey, Germany * , North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany * Lorsch Abbey, Germany * Obermarchtal Abbey, Germany * Pöhlde Abbey, Germany *

Schussenried Abbey Schussenried Abbey (''Kloster Schussenried'', ''Reichsabtei Schussenried'') is a former Catholic monastery in Bad Schussenried, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is famed for its Baroque architecture, Baroque library hall. The abbey was established ...

, 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 H ...

, Germany * Rot an der Rot Abbey, 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 E ...

, Germany *

Zsámbék Abbey Zsámbék (german: Schambeck) is a town in Pest County, Hungary. Location Zsámbék is located 30 km west of Budapest along the M1 motorway in the Gerecse Mountains. Its neighbouring villages are Tök, Perbál, Páty, Herceghalom, Mány ...

, 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 w ...

, 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 th ...

, 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 Sea ...

, 13th century Norway * Żukowo - 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 (Abbaye de Bellelay), Bellelay, Switzerland * Gottstatt Abbey, Orpund, Switzerland * Romainmôtier Abbey, Romainmôtier-Envy, Switzerland * Rüti Abbey (Kloster Rüti) and Rüti Church, 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 Bayham Old Abbey is an English Heritage property, located near Lamberhurst, Kent, England. Founded c. 1207 through a combination of the failing Premonstratensian monasteries of Otham and Brockley, Bayham functioned as an abbey until its dissolut ...

, England *

Beauchief Abbey Beauchief Abbey is a medieval monastic house now serving as a parish church in the southern suburbs of Sheffield, England. History The abbey was founded by Robert FitzRanulph de Alfreton. Thomas Tanner, writing in 1695, stated that it was foun ...

, England * Beeleigh Abbey, England * Blanchland Abbey, England * Cockersand Abbey, England * Coverham Abbey, England * Croxton 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, to establish the new community near Rogate, West Sussex, Sussex. A History of Disaste ...

, England * Easby Abbey, England * Egglestone Abbey, England * Hagnaby Abbey, 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 John of England, King John, the abbey's official year of inauguration was 1218. It acquired two ...

, England * Langley Abbey, England * Lavendon Abbey, England * Leiston Abbey, England * Newbo Abbey, 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 hous ...

, 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 France i ...

, England *

St. Radegund's Abbey St. Radegund's Abbey at Bradsole was a medieval monastic house in the parish of Hougham Without near Dover in southeast England. It was dedicated to Radegund, the sixth-century Merovingian princess, who, once married to the unsavory King Chl ...

, England * Shap Abbey, 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 Premonst ...

, 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 Co ...

, England * Tupholme Abbey, England * Welbeck Abbey, England *

Wendling Abbey Wendling Abbey was monastic house in Norfolk, England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to t ...

, England *

West Langdon Abbey Langdon Abbey () was a Premonstratensian abbey near West Langdon, Kent, founded in about 1192 and dissolved in 1535, reportedly the first religious house to be dissolved by Henry VIII. The visible remains of the abbey are now confined to the e ...

, England * Dercongal Abbey, Scotland * Dryburgh Abbey, Scotland *

, Scotland * Soulseat Abbey, Scotland *

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

Notable members

Robert John Cornell Robert John Cornell, Premonstratensians, O.Praem (December 16, 1919 – May 10, 2009) was an American Catholic Church, Catholic priest, professor, and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin ...

(1919–2009),

Democratic Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

U.S. Congressman The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from Wisconsin from 1975 to 1979 and professor of political science at

St. Norbert College St. Norbert College (SNC) is a private Norbertine liberal arts college in De Pere, Wisconsin. Founded in October 1898 by Abbot Bernard Pennings, a Norbertine priest and educator, the school was named after Saint Norbert of Xanten. In 1952, the co ...

* 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 Charles-Hyacinthe Hugo (20 September 1667 in Saint-Mihiel, Meuse, France – 2 August 1739), also called Louis-Charles Hugo, was a Lorrain Premonstratensian author. Biography Hugo entered the Norbertine novitiate at Pont-à-Mousson, where ...

(1667–1739), French historian and bishop *

Hermann Joseph Hermann Joseph, (c. 11507 April 1241) was a German Premonstratensian canons regular, canon regular and mysticism, mystic. Never formally canonization, canonized, in 1958 his status as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church was formally recognized ...

(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

*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 (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. Ludolph came into conflict with Duke Albert I of Saxony en, Frederi ...

(+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 (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

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 Bandra (Indian English, æːɳɖɾa also known as Vandre (Help:IPA/Marathi, �aːn̪d̪ɾe is an upscale coastal suburb located in Mumbai (Bombay) area of the Konkan division, Maharashtra, India. The suburb is located to the immediate nor ...

Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...

, India *

St. Michael's Preparatory School St Michael's Preparatory School is the largest private preparatory school in Jersey, situated in the parish of St. Saviour. The school acts as a feeder to many British public schools in the United Kingdom. The school celebrated its 60th anni ...

, Silverado, California, US *

, Perth, Western Australia *Saint Norbert Gymnasium ( hu), Gödöllő, Hungary

Controversies

Northern Ireland'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