High above Wurzburg, a tale of faith unfolds at St. Norbert. This isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It is about a spiritual journey that echoes through the centuries.
St. Norbert’s story begins with a man named Norbert of Xanten. He was born around 1075 in Germany. He was a nobleman who lived a pleasurable life. A near-death experience changed everything. A lightning bolt nearly killed him and this incident prompted St Paul’s change of heart.
Norbert left his imperial post. He began a period of prayer. He heard God calling him to the priesthood at age 35. Norbert gave his wealth to the poor. He became a barefoot pilgrim. He possessed nothing except the means to celebrate Mass.
Pope Gelasius II allowed Norbert to preach. He was asked to found a religious order. Others might live after his example. He settled in Aisne France with a group of disciples. They lived according to the Rule of St. Augustine. On Christmas Day in 1121 they were established as the Canons Regular of Premontre. They were also known as the Premonstratensians or Norbertines.
Their founder established a women’s branch of the order. He returned to Germany for a preaching tour. He founded a lay branch of the Premonstratensians. Then he went to Belgium. There he preached against a sect that denied the power of the sacraments.
He avoided becoming the Bishop of Wurzburg. Norbert became the Archbishop of Magdeburg in Germany. The archdiocese was in moral and financial trouble. The new archbishop reformed it. His efforts were partly successful but opponents tried to assassinate him three times.
In 1130 a dispute arose over the papal succession. Norbert traveled to Rome to support Pope Innocent II. Afterward, he returned to Germany. He became a close adviser to Emperor Lothar.
His health was failing and Norbert was brought back to Magdeburg. He died there on June 6 1134. Pope Gregory XIII canonized St. Norbert in 1582.
Now, consider Wurzburg itself. The first Apostle of Christianity was Saint Kilian. He converted Gozbert the Frankish duke of Thuringia. Gozbert’s son Hetan built the first church. It was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. The castle received the name of Marienburg because of this.
A diocese was established in Wurzburg by St. Boniface. He consecrated his friend St. Burchard as bishop in 741. St. Burchard built the first cathedral church. He buried the bodies of St. Kilian and his companions there. He connected a monastery to the church. It followed the Rule of St. Benedict.
The Norbertine order spread. It impacted education and spirituality. Abbot Bernard Pennings opened St. Norbert College in De Pere Wisconsin in 1898. The Norbertine spirit continues to flourish today.
The Canons Regular of Prémontré are in 25 countries today. The Norbertine Canons are involved in good works. These include education parochial ministry university chaplaincy and youth work.
St. Norbert’s legacy embodies love selfless sharing and radical hospitality.