Norbert of Xanten

Norbert of Xanten (c. 1080 – 6 June 1134), also known as Norbert Gennep, was a German Catholic bishop and the founder of the Premonstratensian order. He served as the Archbishop of Magdeburg and is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.

Early Life and Conversion

Born into a noble family, Norbert was destined for an ecclesiastical career and received a thorough education. He held a comfortable position as a canon at the church of St. Victor in Xanten and was appointed almoner by Holy Roman Emperor Henry V. A pivotal moment in his life occurred when he was thrown from a horse during a lightning storm. This near-death experience led to a profound conversion, after which he returned to Xanten to pursue a devout and penitent life.

Priesthood and Preaching

Deeply repentant for his former worldly life, Norbert embraced prayer, fasting, and mortification. When he preached against worldliness, the other canons of Xanten denounced him. He resigned his benefice, sold his property, and gave the proceeds to the poor. Pope Gelasius II granted him permission to become an itinerant preacher. Norbert and his companions traveled extensively, preaching throughout what is now western Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and northern France, and were credited with miracles. He encountered a demoralized clergy and was influenced by the ascetic ideals he witnessed among the Canons of St. Victor in Paris and the Cistercian reforms at Clairvaux and Citeaux.

Founding the Premonstratensian Order

At the Council of Reims in 1119, Pope Calixtus II asked Norbert to found a religious order. On Christmas Day, 1120, Norbert established the Canons Regular of Prémontré in a valley named Prémontré in the Forest of Coucy. For the order's rule, he chose the Rule of St. Augustine and incorporated some Cistercian customs. The order aimed to provide an ascetic and contemplative haven for active priests. By the following year, the community had grown to 40 members. In 1125/6, the constitution for the order was approved by Pope Honorius II.

Archbishop of Magdeburg and Later Life

In 1126, Pope Honorius II appointed Norbert to the Archbishopric of Magdeburg. He implemented the precepts he had instituted at Prémontré and worked to reform the lax discipline of his see, facing assassination attempts. He was instrumental in protecting the Church's rights during the Investiture Controversy. In the schism following the election of Pope Innocent II, Norbert supported Innocent and resisted Antipope Anacletus II. In his final years, he served as chancellor and adviser to Holy Roman Emperor Lothair II, persuading him to lead an army to Rome in 1133 to restore Innocent to the papacy.

Veneration and Legacy

Norbert died in Magdeburg on June 6, 1134. His body was eventually brought to Prague in 1627, where it remains displayed in a glass-fronted tomb. He was canonized by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. His statue is prominently displayed above the Piazza colonnade of St. Peter's Square in Rome. The Premonstratensian order, also known as Norbertines, continues its work in education, ministry, and youth outreach globally. St. Norbert College in Wisconsin, founded by the order, is a testament to its enduring educational legacy.