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from
Abbot General Thomas Handgrätinger, O.
Praem., Rome.
This wall hanging
of St Norbert is in the Generalate in Rome.
The iconography
is explained in the Abbot General's Message below.
Norbert Feast
1134 –
875 Years – 2009
This coming year our Order will celebrate the 875th anniversary of
the death of St. Norbert who died in Magdeburg, Germany on Wednesday
of the octave of Pentecost, June 6, 1134. This jubilee year that
began on June 6, 2008 presents a good opportunity for us to get in
touch once again with the charism and the spirit of St. Norbert and
deepen ourselves in it.
Approach
For the Universal Church the "Year of Paul" began on the Feast of
Peter and Paul 2008. This is the 2000th anniversary of the birth of
Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles. Pope Benedict XVI solemnly
announced and proclaimed this last year. It is certainly no accident
that the story of St. Norbert's conversion during his ride to Vreden
and his fall from a horse reminds us of the conversion story of
Saul/Paul on the way to Damascus. Surely the occasion of both
jubilees is an incentive for us to reflect more deeply on our own
calling and ongoing conversion and to allow ourselves to be inspired
in our own faith by the zeal of both of these saints.
For the Universal Church the "Year of Paul" began on the Feast of
Peter and Paul 2008. This is the 2000th anniversary of the birth of
Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles. Pope Benedict XVI solemnly
announced and proclaimed this last year. It is certainly no accident
that the story of St. Norbert's conversion during his ride to Vreden
and his fall from a horse reminds us of the conversion story of
Saul/Paul on the way to Damascus. Surely the occasion of both
jubilees is an incentive for us to reflect more deeply on our own
calling and ongoing conversion and to allow ourselves to be inspired
in our own faith by the zeal of both of these saints.
At the episcopal ordination of our confrere from Averbode, Frans
Daneels, who for more than 20 years has been working in the Curia
and who is now called to be ordained a bishop, the principal
ordaining bishop, the Cardinal Secretary of State, Tarcisio Bertone,
reflected on the founder of our Order.
St. Norbert had great deference, deep respect and admiration for the
popes of his time. In the course of his life Norbert served five
popes: Paschal II (1099-1118), Gelasius II (1118-1119), Callistus II
(1119-1124), Honorius II (1124-1130), who approved the foundation of
his "monastic order", and finally Pope Innocent II (1130-1143), whom
Norbert, together with St. Bernard, defended against the antipope.
Since our confrere, the new Bishop Frans Daneels, had chosen the
motto "Spiritus tuus deducat me (May your Spirit lead me)", Cardinal
Bertone referred to this with the words, "when we now call upon the
Spirit of Christ, who inspired and prompted Norbert, then may this
Spirit now support the new bishop in his service so that he can
continue to extend his service to the Holy See in this very delicate
and significant field of administration of ecclesiastical
jurisdiction."
I would like to add still another approach to the founder of our
Order. With the new arrangement of our chapel in the Generalate
there was a hanging left over which I now have in my office. The
picture, the original of which is hanging in the choir area of the
abbey church in Tongerlo, portrays St. Norbert sketched in light
lines, as he sits on a cathedra that is not visible. Included are
three attributes: a chalice and a palm branch in his hand as well as
a crosier that appears behind the figure. On the side, reading from
top to bottom between two shields stands the name "St. Norbert".
Certainly there are innumerable representations of Norbert. This one
shows us St. Norbert as we are accustomed to see his image in
iconography. And yet just in this simple sketch are portrayed a few
characteristics of St. Norbert.
St. Norbert
Chalice
The center of the picture and of the image of the saint is marked by
a golden chalice which St. Norbert is holding in his right hand. The
chalice with the blood of Christ symbolizes the Eucharist, which the
Council called the "source and summit of the Christian Life".
Norbert is showing us what is central to him and to us: Christ, who
gave his life for us, who gives himself to us as food, who becomes
our nourishment and source of strength. Since his ordination to the
priesthood Norbert celebrated the Eucharist daily which was
exceptional at that time. At many of these Eucharistic celebrations
extraordinary events and healings took place. Norbert was able to
take part in his last Eucharistic celebration on Pentecost 1134,
just a few days before his death. All these are little clues that
for him life lived from the Eucharist and life in union with the
Lord present in the forms of bread and wine were self-evident. Each
Premonstratensian community lives from this center and is built up
only from there. Each "Norbertine circle of friends" has its center
in this celebration of the Eucharist, its unifying strength and its
ongoing flowing source of inspiration.
Crosier
From 1120 on St. Norbert directed the new community, the "ordo novus"
in Prémontré. From 1126 he directed, as shepherd and leader, the
archdiocese of Magdeburg located in the east of the empire. Norbert
is considered the founder and establisher of a new form of canonical
life in poverty and community. And he was then active as the
shepherd of his diocese for only eight years. The crosier may
express both his prophetic initiative and his hierarchical
responsibility. In both forms he wanted to give support and
direction, guidance and leadership. On several levels, all the way
to imperial politics, he had this fundamental concern of the office
of leadership: being "founder of a community", being moderator and
inspirer. But the criteria for this office of guardian derive from
the Gospel, from Jesus himself, from his words and actions. Norbert
wanted to place his life under the direction of Christ according to
the well-known saying "solo Christo duce". And, if at the beginning
of his conversion, at the time of the fall from his horse, the
question was, "Lord, what should I do?", then during his lifetime
this becomes the basic question and basic option to seek the will of
the Lord in his particular situations, in positions, and
circumstances. We notice several interruptions and initiatives in
Norbert's life, but the basic component is this seeking after the
will of God, placing his life entirely under his direction. And his
fundamental concern remained the same in all phases of his life: to
build up the Church and to renew it, first of all through his own
conversion and renewal of heart and the framework of his life; then
through the incentive of a new religious community, through the
direction of a specific local church, through unprecedented
involvement in the highest ecclesiastical and political levels.
Henri de Lubac once said that Norbert had something restless about
him, "an incurable restlessness". Always driven by the Spirit and an
immense love for the Church of Jesus Christ, he sought after new
forms of realization for ecclesiastical life.
Cathedra
St. Norbert is depicted sitting; the cathedra or chair is not
visible. This is the position of one presiding, who is teaching and
holding an audience, of one who comes in contact with someone and is
communicating with him. Thus the three basic ecclesiastical offices
are found in Norbert. The prophetic task of hearing and announcing
the word of God is represented here in this teaching position on the
cathedra. The responsibility of celebrating the liturgy and
sanctifying the world is central here in the golden chalice. And the
royal task of building up and guiding the community in love is
indicated here by the crosier.
St. Norbert is presented here, as he would like to lead us to the
center of every kind of Christian and spiritual life, to the
celebration of the Lord’s self-emptying to the bitter end, then on
the cross and forever in the Eucharist. He is presented here as he
would like, as "founder and establisher of community", to encourage
and inspire us for the building up of our religious community, again
and again to overcome anything divisive and hold us together as "one
heart and one soul". He is presented here, as he would like to
mediate to us guidance and vision through the example of his life,
above all through his total commitment to peace and justice.
Palm Branch of Peace
Now we come to the final attribute on this hanging. St. Norbert
bears in his right hand a palm branch of victory or peace, the sign
of a life and life framework that was successful and acceptable to
God. It points also to his thoroughly involved manner, sometimes
almost aggressive, to commit himself to reconciliation, agreement
and peace on all levels, even as far as lofty church politics. It
portrays Norbert as “minister of peace and concord”, as our American
confreres like to describe him. With this attribute Norbert gives
us, as it were, the further task of first sanctifying our own lives,
of continually converting and changing our ways; then above all to
become active for others, to fight and struggle, if need be, for a
reconciled world, for a peaceful neighborhood, for agreement in our
life together, for the building up of community and church here and
now, for the credible arrangement and living out of the family of
our own Order to which we belong for life through our profession,
for the care of all the people around us with whom we feel connected
in various ways. For St. Norbert this service was completely
concrete and realistic, with full commitment and involvement, with
his heart’s blood, with the full strength of his faith and love. He
did not spare himself nor did he save his energy. He wanted to
become what he held in the chalice before him and carried with him:
to commit himself as the Lord did, to surrender himself, to give
himself away. Whoever loses his life in my name will find it and
bring forth much fruit.
That the palm of victory might not stand for an idyll or romantic
idea – in iconography martyrs often bear the palm – there is the
"chalice of salvation" with His precious blood that was poured out
for us and for all – self-emptying to the bitter end.
Greeting
In this coming jubilee year I wish all the confreres and sisters
much joy and strength from our encounters and gatherings, but above
all I wish you inspiration, guidance and a new momentum from your
reflection on the life’s work and example of St. Norbert, the
founder of our Order.
Saint Norbert, pray for us.
+ Thomas Handgrätinger
Abbot General
©
http://www.postulatio.info/
Postulator General of the
Order, Fr. Dr. Gabriel Wolf o.praem.
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