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The History of St. Norbert
by J.C. Kirkfleet, O. Praem.; 1916, B. Herder, London
I, Praeco, totum, Gelasius inquit, in orbem;
Fac, caleant flammis omnia regna tuis.
The Pope commissions Norbert to preach throughout the world and by his burning words to inflame the hearts of the people.
Norbert, in appearance a second Peter the Hermit, set out preaching in that same country where, twenty-five years before, Peter had aroused the people by preaching the Crusades. As we know, he had been advised by the Papal Legate at the Council of Fritzlar, to present himself to the Holy Father, and this he intended to do at the outset. But where in those troubled days was the Pope to be found? A true missionary, Norbert relied entirely on Providence; he went from town to town preaching, hoping on his way, to learn of the Pope's whereabouts. He first arrived at the little town, Huy, situated between Liege and Namur, in Belgium. Naturally the people were much surprised to see this poor equipage enter their town; Norbert, barefooted, his two former servants, and a mule carrying their luggage. Though in appearance beggars, yet in reality they were not, for Norbert had still the ten silver marks which he had kept for himself. He began to realize that to have this money was not only against the spirit of poverty, which they outwardly professed, but also contrary to entire dependence on God's Providence. He reproached himself for lack of confidence in God, and forthwith distributed the ten marks among the poor.
He considered the mule also an unnecessary luxury, and gave it away. Henceforth he will have absolutely nothing but what is necessary for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice, and that he is now obliged to carry wherever he goes. Barefooted and begging his daily bread—a worthy precursor of St. Francis—Norbert thus espouses the poverty of Jesus Christ. His lively faith and unlimited confidence in God are to be from this time his only riches.
Pope Paschal II, with whom Norbert, while at the court of Henry in Rome, had come in contact, died in the beginning of this same year. Fearing an interference on the part of Henry, the Cardinals hastily met, and seven days after the death of Paschal elected as his successor John of Gaeta, who took the name of Gelasius II. This happened on the 24th of January, 1118. On learning of the election, Cencio Frangipani, leader of the German faction, at once seized the new Pope and cast him into prison. Scarcely had the august prisoner been set free, in fact on the very day of his ordination, for the newly elected Pope was only deacon as yet—Henry V came to interfere, and Gelasius was obliged to escape under cover of darkness. He landed in Gaeta, his native city, and here he was consecrated. He then went back to Rome, but Cencio Frangipani for the second time laid his sacrilegious hands upon the Lord's anointed. Again the Pope escaped, and this time went to France, the country always devoted to the Papacy. On Nov. 7th, 1118, he stepped upon the shores of Provence, and for a time made his residence in St. Giles, in Languedoc, now in the department of Gard. Here the Holy Father was received with due honor and great enthusiasm by the good people.
In the beginning of the twelfth century news did not travel very fast, so it was some time before the tidings of the Holy Father reached the ears of Norbert. As soon as he had learned that the Pope was in the South of France, he decided to go thither. Winter had well set in at the time, and a most severe one it was. The country was thickly covered with snow and ice. But no obstacles could keep Norbert from fulfilling what he considered his mission, so with his two companions he set out at once.
It would be impossible for any one to give an adequate description of the hardships of this journey. Barefooted on cold winter days—in a strange country—and unacquainted with its language, begging their daily bread, the little party traveled on foot for seven long weeks. [A-4-1] The Saint offered to God the hardships he endured, in expiation of his sins, and his two companions were constantly encouraged by his example. At last they were kneeling greatly exhausted, before the relics of St. Giles, thanking God for His protection.
St. Giles was a famous shrine, and from all parts of the country pilgrimages were continually made to the venerable tomb of the illustrious solitary of the Flavian valley. Although it was mid-winter at the time of Norbert's arrival, the crowds were unusually large on account of the presence of the august Pontiff.
Not one of the vast multitude assembled there recognized our humble servant of God. The Saint rejoiced greatly in this, for ever since his conversion, his ambition was to be unknown and forgotten, except as penitent and missionary. Having satisfied his devotion at the shrine, Norbert proceeded to the Pope's residence and asked to be admitted into his presence. He had no difficulty in obtaining the great favor of a private audience, notwithstanding his beggarly appearance. With a heart full of gratitude to God for all His favors, he approached the Holy Father. Throwing himself at the feet of the Pope and shedding an abundance of tears, he made with the greatest humility a general confession of his whole life. He begged the Holy Father to absolve him, and offered to make any satisfaction which the Vicar of Christ might choose to impose on him.
When after a long interview Gelasius had come to the knowledge of Norbert's noble birth, his position at the court, his miraculous conversion, in fact his whole life's history, he expressed his desire to keep Norbert at his own court for the benefit of the Church. [A-4-2] Our poor Saint trembled at the very thought of resuming the life of a courtier, even with the Holy Father, and related how he had received the clearest signs from heaven to be a missionary and work for "Reform" among clergy and laity; at the same time he begged on his knees the Pope's leave and blessing to preach the Gospel. Pope Gelasius was anxious to assist the earnest missionary in his apostolic labors, and gave him full faculties to preach the Gospel wherever he judged proper. He gave him a document also, by which Norbert became a " Missionary Apostolic," which means that he could preach in any diocese. [A-4-3]
Imagine his immense joy on receiving this great favor. His vocation was thus recognized by the highest authority—all his desires were now gratified, and his happiness complete. It is not without reason that several writers consider this event as the beginning of Norbert's apostolic career. Thus, for instance, writes Anselm of Havelberg: "In the time of Pope Gelasius there arose a man, by the name of Norbert, who imitated the life of the Apostles, and on account of his zeal and holiness of life, received of the Roman Pope Gelasius, special recommendation to preach, in order to check the many abuses in the Western Church. He went preaching through the provinces and won a great number of followers.
Burning with zeal for the salvation of souls, Norbert was anxious to make use of the power the Pope had granted him, and soon left St. Giles. Although spring was near, snow and ice still made the roads most difficult for travelers. Still, barefooted, Norbert returned to the North. In many places he was obliged to wade knee-deep through the snow, nevertheless he refused to make a stop even for a day, except for the purpose of preaching. Speaking of this truly heroic journey, the earliest biographer says: "His burning love of God rendered him insensible to cold, and his thirsting after souls made him forget his lack of nourishment and fatigue." At this time he still kept up his earlier practice, except on Sundays, of not taking food until evening. When not actually traveling he was preaching, and many of his nights were spent entirely in prayer.
Passing through Orleans in the beginning of Lent, he was joined by a new disciple, who asked to remain with him and assist in his missionary labors. Thus Norbert, with his two former servants and his new disciple, who was a subdeacon, journeyed on as far as Valenciennes. Here they arrived on the 22d of May, that year the eve of Palm Sunday. The time was, doubtless, very favorable for the zeal of our apostle, but he was not well conversant with the French language. What, then, should he do? That he knew some French, we may safely infer from the fact that he had been preaching on the way, but he had not that mastery of it which this solemn occasion seemed to demand. At first he was quite disheartened, but soon we see him in the church, and while there, praying most fervently; the thought came to him that the Holy Ghost had bestowed upon the Apostles the gift of languages. He thus asked God for the sake of the apostolate and for the benefit of the people, to make them understand his words. Full of confidence in God's mercies, and with that lively faith so characteristic of him, he fearlessly mounted the pulpit, and, carried away by holy enthusiasm, preached a most eloquent sermon in his own language. "And Oh! wonder," says the biographer of Brandenburg, [A-4-4] "his words were received by the people with delight and listened to with the closest attention."
Some historians, relating this incident,. say that his appearance and gestures spoke more eloquently than words, and conveyed his meaning. Others, however, and among these his earliest biographers, ascribe the fact to a great miracle, which recalls the first great Pentecost at Jerusalem. This miracle is also affirmed by so reliable an authority as Blessed Hugh, at that time chaplain of Bishop Burchard, and later Norbert's best beloved disciple and successor. Moreover, it is a most remarkable fact, that the inhabitants of Valenciennes continued coming in large crowds to listen to him, and begged him to spend some time with them. He succeeded in bringing about a number of conversions, and the people honored him as a truly apostolic missionary. But Norbert had not intended to stay among them. He thought merely to pass through their town on his way to the North, and so did not wish to delay his journey thither. However, it soon appeared to be the will of God that he should remain here longer, where a great trial awaited him.
His three companions suddenly became ill, and Norbert was obliged to accept the generous offer of hospitality which he had previously declined. It is very probable that the illness was caused by privation, fatigue and exposure during their long and tedious journey. This must have been the case at least in regard to his two former servants. Their illness showed from the start disquieting symptoms as the fever ran high, and soon Norbert realized that it was a question of life and death. "He attended them faithfully," relates a manuscript of the abbey of Vicogne; "he cleansed and nursed their sore and emaciated bodies, their feet bruised by ice and frozen snow; he prepared their food which he himself begged from the charity of the faithful, and he waited on them constantly." [A-4-5] But his affectionate care could not stay the hand of death, and during the Octave of Easter, after two weeks of suffering, the three helpers of our zealous missionary passed to where suffering is unknown. Norbert himself had administered to them the rites of Holy Church; and aided by him they died fully resigned to the will of God, though they were far from home and in a strange and unknown country. Broken-hearted and worn out by fatigue, Norbert accompanied their bodies to their last resting place. This trial was all the greater for Norbert, coming at the very outset of his missionary career. Still his confidence in God was unshaken. With Job he exclaimed: "The Lord hath given, the Lord hath taken, praised be the name of the Lord." Consoled by this thought, he had the bodies of his faithful companions buried with great honor amidst a large concourse of people.
During these weeks of suffering and anxiety, while Norbert had been busy nursing his sick companions, a most providential circumstance occurred. Burchard, the Bishop of Cambray, a sincere friend of Norbert, had made his entrance into the village. Burchard had, for the past three years, been Bishop of Cambray, which See, as we remember, had been offered first to Norbert by the Emperor Henry, on his return journey from Rome, but which Norbert at the time declined to accept. Burchard and Norbert had known each other a long time at the court of Henry, and had always been sincere friends. Feeling at this time the special need of a trusted friend, our Saint went to pay his respects to the Bishop.
He arrived at the Bishop's residence, met one of the chaplains, and asked him to arrange an interview with His Lordship. This cleric, not knowing Norbert, announced to the Bishop that a beggarly looking pilgrim wanted an audience. No doubt the chaplain thought that this poor man had come to beg for alms, and hoped to spare the Bishop the trouble of seeing him personally. The good Bishop, however, asked to see that poor pilgrim, and Norbert was admitted into his presence. Entering the room, Norbert greeted his former companion familiarly, and in German, which greatly surprised the Bishop who thereupon looked at him intently for a few minutes. He saw his bare feet—bruised and swollen— his beggarly appearance—he scrutinized his emaciated features, until suddenly overcome by emotion and greatly astonished, he exclaimed: "Is it you, is it really you, master Norbert, But who would ever believe this?" Then recalling Norbert's former greatness, his wealth and high position, and at the same time realizing that he had forsaken all this for God, Burchard burst into tears and embraced his noble friend, dearer to him now than ever before; for a long time neither was able to say a word.
At last the silence was broken by Hugh, the Bishop's chaplain, who had been present all the while and who was greatly astonished at the tears and marks of friendship between the Bishop and this beggar. Since he could not understand German, he could only surmise the meaning of it all, and said to the Bishop: "But who, my lord, is this stranger?" "Ah," the Bishop replied, "if you only knew who he is and what he has been, you "would undoubtedly share my surprise and admiration. "This poorly-clad beggar is the son of the illustrious" Count of Gennep, and is related to the highest nobility in Germany. We spent several years together at the Court, and he was always a great favorite of the Emperor, and one of the most elegant courtiers. And what is more, it is to this man that I owe my bishopric. The Emperor offered me the see of Cambray, only after Norbert had refused it . . . and to meet him now in this state . . . a barefooted beggar seeking God in poverty and sacrifice!" [A-4-6] A flood of tears prevented the good Bishop from saying more, but he had said enough to further God's designs over his chaplain, for his words together with the sight of Norbert so touched the heart of the chaplain, that at once he took a generous resolve. He beheld in Norbert no common man, but a true saint, and the grace of God revived in his heart that desire for the religious life which he had felt for a long time. Should he not also be able to say farewell to the world and its allurements, and consecrate himself to God forever? Oh! may we not here again admire the all-guiding Providence of God, for this chaplain, as we shall see later, will be one of Norbert's most illustrious disciples.
Norbert and the Bishop spent a long time conversing together, unconscious of the change that was taking place in the heart of the chaplain. Burchard was at once convinced of Norbert's absolute sincerity and holiness, and gave him every token of the deepest respect. Their old friendship was renewed and they met frequently.
But illness soon prostrated Norbert. The nursing of his sick companions, following upon his long and tedious journey, had overtaxed his bodily strength. Utterly exhausted, his mortified frame at last gave way, and he was forced once more to prolong his stay at Valenciennes. Soon his condition became so alarming that the good Bishop postponed his own departure in order to be of assistance to Norbert, whenever possible. Every day the Prelate came to inquire after his condition, either in person or by one of his clerics, usually his chaplain Hugh. The latter especially was very anxious to spend a good deal of time with the Saint, in order to imbibe his spirit and maxims. The more he saw Norbert the more he admired his patience and entire resignation to the will of God, and he felt himself strongly drawn to him. So this illness was in the inscrutable designs of God, a great blessing for both. When Norbert was at last well on in the way of convalescence, Hugh opened to him his mind and heart, and told him the story of his life. He emphasized especially the feelings he had experienced at their first meeting, and when he begged Norbert as a great favor to allow him to join in his apostolic work, our dear Saint was beside himself with joy. "Lord," he exclaimed, "Thou art my witness that even on this day have I asked Thee for a companion. Behold here he is. Thanks, my heavenly Father, I thank Thee with my whole heart. " [A-4-7]
These events occurred in April, 1119. The following month Norbert's health was so far restored that he felt able to travel to Cambray and visit his dear friend, Bishop Burchard, as we read in the annals of the diocese of Cambray: "In the year 1119, during Rogation week, master Norbert came to this town for the first time." We mention this fact to show how highly our saint was esteemed, since even his visit to the place is mentioned in the annals. Hugh, meanwhile, had gone to Fosse, his native town, to put his estates in order and say farewell to his kinsfolk. He actually joined Norbert for good after the latter's return from Cambray to Valenciennnes, in the month of June, 1119. This same Hugh is to play a very important part in the early formation of the Premonstratensian Order. When Norbert is raised to the Archiepiscopal See of Magdeburg, Hugh succeeds him and takes the management of the whole Order.
<<start of footnotes for chapter A-4>>
[A-4-1]
According to Vanden Elsen, o. c., p. 31, It was at this time that Norbert, while in Lyons, spoke on the Immaculate Conception of' the Blessed Virgin.
[A-4-2]
Cfr. Madelaine, o. c., p. 9l, where an extract is given of the tenth chapter of the Vita B.
[A-4-3]
Ibidem., p. 92, where further is quoted the "Chronic. de Mailros," apud Fell. S. S. Rerum Angl., p. 164. An. 1118: Dominus Norbertus papam Gelasium adiens offlcium ab eo praedicationis accepit. Also Vita A, p. 448, An. 1118.
[A-4-4]
Acc. to Madelaine, op. cit., p. 94, two codices (Morinensis et Knechtstedenensis) of the Vita B relate here the miracle of "tongues."
[A-4-5]
Cfr. Charles Louis Hugo, "Annales Ordinis Praem." Book I, p. 34.
[A-4-6]
Cfr. Madelaine, op. cit., p. 97, quoting Acta SS. XX, p. 853. Analecta Norbertina: Si scires quin fuerit, etc.
[A-4-7]
Cfr. Madelaine, o. c., p. 98.
<<end of footnotes for chapter A-4>>
<<end of CHAPTER A-4 for Kirkfleet, Volume 1>>
