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The History of St. Norbert
by J.C. Kirkfleet, O. Praem.; 1916, B. Herder, London
Norberti studiis Anacleti schismate presso,
Legitimo Capiti Roma quieta subes.
Through Norbert's zeal the schism of the antipope was
ended and Rome restored to God's true Representative.
That Norbert's zeal for the welfare of religion was not merely confined to his Archdiocese, but extended to the Church Universal, we learn especially from the part he took in the suppression of the schism of Peter di Leone. Before proceeding with the Saint's history, therefore, it appears necessary to give a short account of this nefarious schism, to show the more clearly the importance of Norbert's work.
After the death of Pope Honorius II, which took place about the middle of February, Gregory, Cardinal-Deacon of the title of St. Angelo, had duly been elected to succeed him. He was clothed in the Pontifical robes and enthroned in the Lateran basilica, on the 17th day of February, 1130, taking the name of Innocent II. Observes Darras:
"On the same day," observes Darras, "Peter di Leone, of a recently converted Jewish family, whose wealth commanded great influence in Rome, was elected by some dissenting Cardinals; he seized St. Peter's Church by armed force, stripped it of all its wealth, and was crowned by his partisans, with the title of Anacletus II.'' [C-5-1]
He was, moreover, bold enough to send notice of his election to all Christian princes and to compel the lawful Pope Innocent to leave the city. To estimate more fully the grave consequences of this act the reader ought not to forget that we are writing, not of the twentieth century, but of the twelfth, when there was neither telegraphic communication nor the press to reach the world with the rapidity of thought, and contradict false announcements. Moreover, Peter di Leone was Cardinal at the time, and thus a great many did not even think of questioning the report. In fact, he it was who, together with Cardinal Gregory, now the lawful Pontiff, had given in 1124 the first papal approval of the Order of Premontre, by a Bull to which both these Cardinals had affixed their seals. The consequences therefore of Peter's assuming the papal crown in opposition to Gregory were very deplorable, and created lamentable confusion. Ordericus declares that:
" . . . in most monasteries two abbots arose and in bishoprics, two prelates strove for the chief authority, one of whom adhered to Peter (Anacletus), the other to Gregory (Innocent)."
And St. Bernard, speaking of this anti-pope, says in one of his letters:
"The enemy of the Cross of Christ (I relate it even weeping) carries his audacity so far as to drive from their (Episcopal) sees the holy men who absolutely refuse to bend the knee before the beast of the Apocalypse. He endeavors to raise altar against altar . . . to intrude abbots into the places of abbots, bishops into the places of bishops, to thrust out Catholics, to advance schismatics....'' [C-5-2]
And in letter CXXIV St. Bernard says of Peter, that either he is "of Antichrist or the Antichrist himself."
Incidentally, we might call the reader's attention here to a former letter of St. Bernard quoted above. From that letter it appeared that the present schism had been revealed to our Saint two years before it actually occurred. St. Bernard at that time thought Norbert's prediction a mere illusion, but now when he saw Peter di Leone usurping the Chair of St. Peter, and followed by a dissolute mob, breaking altars and selling holy vessels to cover the expenses of a cruel war, he remembered the words of Norbert; and thus Bernard himself speaks of Peter as the Antichrist, who now had appeared and was making war against God and His Church.
When the conflicting reports in regard to the new Pontiff reached the ears of the Archbishop of Magdeburg, he at once took steps to find out the true state of affairs in Rome. He wrote to the Archbishop of Ravenna and to the Bishop of Lucques in Tuscany, who were in a position to know the truth about the election. Though the letters of the Saint have been lost, the answers of the two Italian prelates still exist. Archbishop Gautier wrote to Norbert as follows:
"Upon receipt of the letter which Your Grace has deigned to send me without knowing me and without ever having seen me, I was greatly rejoiced in the Lord, because, though bodily separated by a long distance, we are united through charity."
He then relates how, after the death of Pope Honorius, Cardinal Gregory had been duly elected, and continues:
"But after this election, Peter Leonis, who for a long time had aspired to the Papacy, now assisted by the violence of his parents, the spilling of blood and the profanation of holy images, impudently took the red cape, distinctive ornament of the Pope, and feared not to usurp in a simoniacal manner the Holy Roman Church, our Mother. Since these facts are known to all the churches of Italy, we recognize without a shadow of doubt, we salute and venerate as Pope and Lord Apostolic, Innocent II, a man wise, prudent, chaste, humble and full of virtue, who has received the divine consecration from the venerable Cardinals. In regard to Peter Leonis, who is truly a son of a roaring lion, we condemn him and reject him as an intruder, an apostate and a heretic. We beg the prudence of Your Grace not to hesitate . . ."
He further begs Norbert to use his influence with Lothaire, King of the Romans, to induce him to come to Rome at once, and to confirm the bishops of Germany in the union of the Catholic faith. He then concludes, recommending himself to Norbert's pious prayers, and wishing the Saint long life and health for the welfare of a great number of people and for the glory and honor of the Church." [C-5-3]
The answer of Henry, Bishop of Lucquez, was still more explicit on the fact of the election. He relates to Norbert, "his Father and Lord," how, when Pope Honorius was dangerously sick, the Cardinals met in the church of St. Andrew the Apostle, and decided that the election of a new Pontiff should be entrusted to eight persons: two Cardinal-Bishops, the one of Preneste and the one of Sabine; three Cardinal-Priests, Peter of Pisa, Peter Rufus and Peter Leonis; three Cardinal-Deacons, Gregory of St. Angelo, Jonathas and the Chancellor Haimeric, in such a manner that when Pope Honorius, who then was in his last hour, came to die, he who should be elected by these eight men or their majority, would be recognized by all as the new Pope. The Cardinal-Bishop of Preneste decided, moreover, with the consent of all the others, that if anyone should oppose the election thus made, he would be subject to excommunication; and that if anyone should try to elect another, this election would be null, and that he, thus elected, should be incapable of ever obtaining any dignity in the Church. Peter di Leone confirmed this decision with his own mouth, adding that no one need fear any coming schism in the Church. ". . . But he and Jonathas separated themselves from their colleagues . . ." [C-5-4]
These are the two letters addressed to the Archbishop of Magdeburg in answer to his queries, which letters incidentally have revealed to modern historians the exact circumstances of the election of Innocent, and the intrusion of Anacletus. It is needless to add which side Norbert chose.
Now, as we have said, Anacletus, once master of Rome, had dispatched letters to all Christian sovereigns announcing his election to the pontifical throne. The bearer of the letter to the German King Lothaire was Albero, Archbishop of Bremen and Legate of the anti-pope in Germany, who used all his influence to gain the king for the party of his master. This same Albero bore also a letter from the anti-pope to Norbert, because Anacletus knew him to be the king’s friend and advisor. In this letter the anti-pope spoke in the most flattering terms of the Archbishop of Magdeburg and the great work the Premonstratensians were doing, at the same time reminding Norbert of the fact that he as the Pope's Legate had at one time done Norbert a great service by approving his Order. He further begged the Saint to follow his party and use his influence with King Lothaire and the German Court. [C-5-5]
But Norbert, not satisfied with the accounts he had received from the above mentioned bishops, had also obtained information from Haimeric himself, the Chancellor of the Roman Church, [C-5-6] who confirmed Norbert in his belief regarding the nullity of Peter's election. Consequently the Saint treated the letters from Anacletus with contempt, and replied, that far from using his influence in favor of the anti-pope, he would most assuredly direct it against him.
Meanwhile the adherents of Anacletus did all in their power to gain Lothaire over to their party. Pressed for a decision, the king convoked a Diet at Wurzburg (or Wissemburg) in the month of October, 1130. Norbert was the soul of this assembly, and by his powerful eloquence caused the king to declare that he recognized Innocent II as the legitimate Pontiff, and at the same Diet Peter di Leone was excommunicated. [C-5-7] Norbert did more. When Pope Innocent had been compelled to leave Rome, he had turned towards the shores of France, which had received the august exile with all honor due to his great dignity.
At this time His Holiness was at Chartres, and through the influence of Norbert, a meeting was arranged between the Pope and the King at the Council of Liege:
". . . where the Emperor Lothaire came to meet him (Pope Innocent) with an enormous attendance of Archbishops, Bishops and Dignitaries of his realm; and in the center of the great square before the cathedral church, the Emperor, as if he had been the Pope's equerry, approached the Pontiff respectfully on foot, in the midst of his procession, and with one hand kept off the crowd with a rod, while with the other, like a servant conducting his lord, he led by the bridle the white horse on which the pope was mounted. Then, as the ground was sloping, he supported and almost carried the Pope, and thus greatly increased the dignity of his Paternity (the Pope) in the eyes of all." [C-5-8]
Truly a great triumph for Norbert, to see his loyal efforts thus crowned with success; and the consequences of this public acknowledgment on the part of Lothaire at this particular time cannot be overestimated.
Anacletus was duly informed of Norbert's activity, and must have been acutely and incalculably disappointed. But he dissimulated his anger and used the greatest moderation in his dealings with our Saint. It happened that Atticus, the former Archdeacon, whom the reader will not forget as the leader of Norbert's enemies in Magdeburg, had just at this time made an appeal to the court of the anti-pope, against his Archbishop, who was Norbert. It seems beyond doubt that this Atticus, or Hazeko, having been repeatedly found guilty of injustice in the execution of his office, had at last been suspended by the Archbishop, and dismissed from his office. Now against this judgment of Norbert, he had appealed to the anti-pope, and even personally gone to Rome to defend his cause.
Anacletus on his part thought to find in this event a favorable opportunity of coming in contact with Norbert, and in order perchance to gain him eventually to his party, proceeded with the greatest caution. He began by requesting the Archbishop of Magdeburg in the most polite terms to appear before him. In his request, which is dated May 18, 1130, it was stated that it was less to judge him than to have the pleasure of seeing again an old friend. The concluding words are:
"We desire to love you with our whole heart, and to honor you with all our power, you and the church confided to you." [C-5-9]
When, however, Norbert failed to take any notice of the request, Anacletus cited him to Rome a second time, and commanded him to re-establish Atticus in his former position. But the Saint treated this second letter as the first, and finally the anti-pope Anacletus, excommunicated Norbert, the Archbishop of Magdeburg, in the following words:
"We have ordered you to appear before us during the Octave of St. Martin, but you, unfaithful son, son of Belial, you have not only treated with contempt our paternal commands, but by your sarcastic discourses you have even dared to attack us, and through us the Chair of St. Peter. And to give a semblance of truth to your slander you have said publicly that We have come to the highest Apostolic Office, not by the election of the clergy but by the intrigues of our family, the strong arm of our brother and the spilling of blood. I know from what source you have these calumnious inventions; it is Haimeric, a man dismissed from the College of the Cardinals, who has furnished you with the material. You further have communicated these lies to His Majesty, King Lothaire, whose confidence you are abusing scandalously. You further pride yourself on having him for friend and protector, as if a crime could be condoned by the dignity of its protectors. We are astonished to see so great a Sovereign the champion of an infamous lie, and more amazed still at finding this pious king allowing you to bark like a dog against the majesty of the papacy. For I know that you are going about to all the bishops and nobles of the realm to make proselytes for a criminal, who is the antichrist, and to take the people away from under our authority. What evil spirit drives you? What has the Catholic Church done to you? That we gave you so many tokens of our affection, that we have given freely (gratis) our approbation to your Order when We were in France, is all this the reason why you erect an idol in Germany, and raise altar against altar? The unity of the Catholic Church can no longer suffer the excesses of this shameful schism. We therefore feel ourselves obliged to cut with a knife the wound which We were unable to heal with balm of love. Consequently we condemn you and your followers as we do Jannes and Mambres, Dathan and Abiron. We deprive you of all your ecclesiastical and civil rights, and deliver you to eternal damnation. Given at Rome, from St. Peter's, Jan. 29, 1131.'' [C-5-10]
"I really do not know," says Abbot Illana, "why Anacletus and Hazeko went through all this trouble, the one to write such a letter and the other to deliver it, since both knew the character of Norbert." And in very truth, the injuries enumerated by the anti-pope, irritated at not having been able to gain for his own cause a man like Norbert, seem to us now the most magnificent eulogy of the conduct of our Saint during the schism of 1130. Moreover the excommunication of the Archbishop of Magdeburg did great harm to the cause of Anacletus himself, especially in Germany. The people, who held their Archbishop in the highest veneration, when they saw him thus grossly insulted by one who claimed to be the Vicar of Christ, became more and more convinced of his intrigues and excesses. On the other hand, Pope Innocent greatly encouraged Norbert, and especially after the Council of Rheims showed Norbert how deeply grateful he was for the work the Saint was doing for the welfare of the Church.
At the Council of Rheims, Norbert had assisted as ambassador of Lothaire, and his arrival is thus described by the chronicler [C-5-11]
"At that time our Bishop Bernard with Norbert, Metropolitan of Magdeburg, who in those days enjoyed great fame and renown in the Church of God, arrived in the city of Rheims. Norbert was commissioned to hand over to the Pope a letter in which King Lothaire again protested his deep respect for Pope Innocent, and announced his readiness to undertake the expedition to Rome against Anacletus. No more welcome news could have been given to Pope Innocent, and he therefore showed his deep appreciation in a letter, addressed to the Saint shortly after, from which the following words are taken:
"It is known to all with how great firmness and perseverance, you, reverend brother Norbert, Archbishop of Magdeburg, have taken upon yourself the defense of the unity of the Catholic Church and how your burning piety and prudent foresight have stood like an unassailable wall around the house of God against the advancing schism of Peter di Leone. You have done all in your power to gain the good will of the King, princes and others, clerics and laymen, to preserve the unity of the Catholic Church and to bring by your eloquent and powerful discourses all under obedience to Us and to St. Peter." [C-5-12]
Thus we have the testimony of Pope Innocent as well as the indirect praise of the anti-pope, showing Norbert's great activity in this schism. Among the writings of St. Norbert, which, alas, are lost to us, Le Paige names a "Treatise for the defense of Pope Innocent against the anti-pope Peter Leonis." [C-5-13] Considering the great part our Saint took in this struggle of the whole Church against one man, the loss of this paper is most unfortunate. Cardinal Gerard Caccinianimici, who watched over the interests of Pope Innocent in Germany, confessed loudly that by the efforts of Norbert Germany persevered in her obedience to the legitimate Pontiff. Norbert was thus for Germany what St. Bernard was for France, so that we can truly say that the two great defenders of the Church in these calamitous times, were Bernard and Norbert.
At the close of the Council of Rheims the Pope proceeded to Laon, whither Norbert accompanied him, as he had a great desire to revisit his dear Premontre. The Saint travelled in the company of Bartholomew, the good Bishop of Laon, who still continued to love and protect the Order Norbert had founded. It is not difficult to divine the topic of conversation as the two bishops travelled once more over the roads in the neighborhood of Laon. How vividly they were reminded of the days when Bishop Bartholomew went forth with Norbert in search of a place suitable for a monastery. How wonderfully this work had developed under Divine guidance!
When at last Norbert arrived in the monastery he was received by the brethren with the greatest enthusiasm. However great was the joy of Norbert's arrival to the brethren, that of his own heart surpassed it, when he saw the fervor of the religious. [C-5-14] When once more he walked the old familiar halls, and joined the brethren in the singing of the Divine Office, how deep down in his heart he must have envied them their peaceful religious and regular life. How different it all was from his daily life as head of an archdiocese, especially in those troublous days. However, he always found consolation in his favorite maxim: "Qui Deum habet pro se turbatur in nulla rei" Who has God on his side is never disturbed by anything.
The Sovereign Pontiff, accompanied by several bishops, likewise paid a visit to Premontre at this time. His Holiness did so to show his appreciation of all Norbert had done in his behalf. [C-5-15] The biographer continues:
"What the Pope witnessed, fully confirmed all he had heard concerning the fervor of these religious, who at this period were the admiration of the whole Church. With his own eyes he saw how men of noble birth and great learning practiced joyfully the most rigorous austerities of privation and religious discipline. Five hundred religious he found living together as brethren, united by the same spirit and working for the same end. He further saw how many of them, while strictly observing the monastic exercises of the contemplative life, fulfilled at the same time the priestly functions of the active ministry. The virtuous lives of these fervent religious so edified Pope Innocent, that he again confirmed, now as Sovereign Pontiff, the Order which he had formerly confirmed as Legate to Pope Honorius. He further confirmed and approved the resolutions of the General Chapter, by which unity of discipline had been established for all Premonstratensian foundations, and by which the Abbot of Premontre had become Abbot-General.''
After the Pope's departure Norbert spent a few more days in his dear solitude, and then at the special command of Innocent, hastened back to Germany that he might confer with Lothaire on the proposed expedition into Italy.
<<Start of Footnotes for Chapter C-5>>
[C-5-1]
Cfr. History of the Cath. Church, Vol. III, p. 217.
[C-5-2]
Cfr. "Works of St. Bernard," by S. J. Eales. Letter CXXVI. See also General Preface, p. 35.
[C-5-3]
Mansi. Concil. XXI, p. 432, et seqq. "Visis Sanctissimae Paternitatis Vestrae litteris . . ."
[C-5-4]
Cfr. Madelaine op. cit., p. 412 who moreover quotes the letter in full in the appendix. No. XII.
[C-5-5]
VandenElsen, op. cit., p. 281, who further quotes Hugo, according to whom Anacletus made great promises in the letter to Norbert, the nature of which, however, is not revealed.
[C-5-6]
Anacletus reproached Norbert for having listened to Haimeric. Cfr. Hugo "Vie de saint Norbert," p. 309.
[C-5-7]
Cfr. Tenkhoff, p. 35 - Hefele "Hist. des Conc." T. VII, p. 210.
[C-5-8]
This quotation is taken from the "General Preface" to the Works of' St. Bernard, by S. J. Eales, pp. 39-40. Although Norbert's name is not mentioned just here in connection with this event, further quotations will prove the above statement. Cfr., also Madelaine op. cit., p. 415. Hefele loc. cit. Acta Sanctorum T. I. Maii, p. 527.
[C-5-9]
Hugo "La Vie de saint Norbert," p. 311.
[C-5-10]
Hugo 1. c. This letter was found in the archives of Mont. Cassino and sent to Hugo in 1704. Cfr. Madelaine, p. 418.
[C-5-11]
Cfr. Pertz Script. XII, p. 642—also Acta SS. T. I. Maii., p. 528.
[C-5-12]
This remarkable letter, observes VandenElsen, p. 290, is found in Ludwig "Relig. Manusc. XII, dipl. miscell. IV. 388. Also Jaffe R. P. 5441—and Migne CLXXXIX, 167. A similar letter had also been received by St. Bernard on Feb. 17, 1132.
[C-5-13]
Le Paige "Biblioth . . . p. 304. "Scripsit . . . praeclarum opus pro defensione Innocentii Papae secundi contra Petrum Leonis filium, pseudo-papam."
[C-5-14]
Cfr. Hugo op. cit., p. 316, who bases his assertion on a manuscript life of St. Norbert. Cfr. also P. Alph. de Liguori, p. 292.
[C-5-15]
Cfr. Madelaine, pp. 416-417.
[C-5-16]
According to Le Paige, 419-448, both these "Bulls" are dated April 12, 1131.
