by C.J. Kirkfleet, O. Praem.

1916, B. Herder, London

CONTENTS

TIME PERIOD A

From the Birth of Norbert 

until the Foundation of his Order

1080-1120

CHAPTER A-1: Birth and Education of Norbert

• Is ordained Sub-Deacon
• His worldly life at the Court of' the Archbishop
• At the Court of' Henry
• His Journey to Rome as almoner to the Emperor
• His conduct towards Pope Paschal II
• His return to the Court of' the Archbishop.( 1080-1115)

CHAPTER A-2: Norbert's miraculous Conversion on the road to Freden

• His Retreat in the Benedictine Abbey of' Siburg
• His temptations and trials
• His Ordination to the Priesthood at Cologne
• His acquaintance with Abbot Rupert
• His ardent desire ror "Reform." (1116) 

CHAPTER A-3: Norbert the Penitent

• He is insulted and persecuted
• Decried as a Fanatic
• His meekness and humility
• His faith shown at the Grotto
• His meeting with Ludolph, the Hermit
• His appearance before the Council of' Fritzlar
• He gives all he has to the poor—"Ad omne opus bonum paratus'
• Says farewell to his people. (1116-1118)

CHAPTER A-4: Norbert begins his missionary career

CHAPTER A-5: Norbert resumes his missionary labors

• His love for Poverty
• His wonderful success in reconciling enemies
• Instructing his disciple
• Norbert at Fosse
• Death of Pope Gelasius
• Norbert's enemies
• Bartholomew, Bishop of Laon
• Norbert appears at the Council of Rheims (1119)

CHAPTER A-6: Bartholomew retains Norbert in his diocese

• Norbert fails in reforming the canons of St. Martin's Abbey
• His first visit to Premontre
• Apparition of the Blessed Virgin
• Meaning of' the name "Premontre"
• Property given to Norbert by the Bishop. (1119-1120)

TIME PERIOD B

From the Time the Order is Founded until 

Norbert becomes Archbishop of Magdeburg

1120-1126

CHAPTER B-1: Norbert goes out in search of followers

• First trial at Premontre
• A Robbery
• Meeting of' Evermode
• Reception of Habit
• Deed of the property at Premontre
• Building of' huts
• Uncertainty as to Rule
• Synod of Soissons
• Norbert opposes Abelard
• His power over the hearts of' sinners. (1120-1121)

CHAPTER B-2: Second Order of St. Norbert

• Ricvere first nun
• The evil spirit at work in Premontre
• Some religious return to the world
• Accusations against the Saint
• Norbert at Nivelles
• Norbert at Cologne
• He discovers numerous relics
• Foundation of second house
• Floreffe. (1121)

CHAPTER B-3: Norbert returns to Premontre with thirty disciples

• New huts are built
• Apparition of St. Augustine
• His Rule
• First solemn Profession on Christmas night, 1121
• Object and character of the Premonstratensian Order
• Devotion to the Blessed Eucharist and to the Blessed Virgin
• The serving of parishes
• Teaching
• The white habit

CHAPTER B-4: The Organization of the Young Community

• Norbert's favorite Counsels
• Daily life of the clerics
• Their studies and manual labor
• Penance
• The life of' laybrothers
• The Rule of the nuns
• Blessed Ricvere, the First nun

CHAPTER B-5: Church and Monastery are built at Premontre

• Laying of cornerstone
• Miraculous happenings at Floreffe and Maestricht
• Satan at work among the builders at Premontre
• Solemn dedication of the church
• Sad accident
• Beauty of abbey of Premontre
• Rapid development of the Order. (1122)

CHAPTER B-6: Norbert and Count Godfrey

CHAPTER B-7: St. Norbert and Theobald, Count of Champagne

• Theobald wants to follow the example ot Godfrey
• Is dissuaded by Norbert
• Origin and object ot the Third Order
• Theobald its first member
• Rule to be observed by Tertiaries
• Marvelous growth of Norbert's work

CHAPTER B-8: Tanchelm, the heretic

• His life and teaching
• Canons quit Antwerp
• Bishop Burchard invites Norbert
• Norbert sets out with eleven disciples
• Their triumph over heresy
• Norbert is called the Apostle of Antwerp
• His love tor the Blessed Sacrament

CHAPTER B-9: New Foundations in France and Belgium

• St. Martin's Abbey at Laon
• Foundations in Switzerland and Poland
• The Order is confirmed by the Papal Legates
• Norbert's critics
• Dialogue between a religious of Cluny and a monk of Citeaux
• Some of the Saint's admirers

CHAPTER B-10: St. Bernard and St. Norbert

• Striking similarity of thelr life-story
• Close companions in the work of "Reform"
• Mutual admiration and cooperation
• Their friendship for Count Theobald
• Love of St. Bernard for the Premonstratensian Order
• He recommends the sons of St. Norbert to the Queen of Jerusalem

CHAPTER B-11: Miraculous happenings at Premontre

• Norbert's Journey to Ratisbon
• Count Engelbert
• Spanish Disciples
• Norbert's Order and the Order of St. Dominic
• The winter of 1125
• Norbert's great love for the poor
• Document which makes provision for the poor in all Premonstratensian abbeys

CHAPTER B-12: Norbert is still opposed

• His Journey to Rome
• Pope Honorius confirms the Order
• The Bull issued by the Pope
• Prophetic words in Rome
• New foundations on German soil
• Miracle of Wurzburg where, through Norbert, God restores sight to a blind woman
• The People want Norbert for their Bishop
• His return to Premontre

CHAPTER B-13: Abbots and Provosts in the Order

• New Foundations
• Everwin, Abbot of Steinfeldt
• Concerning the marriage of Count Theobald
• Norbert's farewell address to his disciples
• Solemn Diet of Spires
• Norbert is proclaimed Archbishop

TIME PERIOD C

From the Time Norbert Becomes Archbishop Until His Death

1126-1134

CHAPTER C-1: Norbert's triumphant entrance Into Magdaburg

• His appearance
• The Doorkeeper refuses him admittance
• His episcopal Consecration
• Conditions of the times
• Norbert begins his work of reform
• Meets with great opposition
• He receives the Pallium
• General condition of the diocese
• Wends
• First Missionary expedition of Norbert

CHAPTER C-2: Relations between Norbert and King Lothaire

• Takes sides against Conrad
• A friend of the religious of his diocese
• His visit to Premontre and Xanten
• Vision of Hugh
• The government of the Order goes over to Hugh
• First General Chapter
• The Fathers come into Magdeburg

CHAPTER C-3: Plots against the life of the Saint

• Archdeacon Atticus
• The false penitent
• How God warned the Saint
• A second attempt is made on his life
• Desecration of the Cathedral occasion for outbreak
• A riot
• The Saint and the Canons sing the Offlce of Matins in the tower
• False accusations against Norbert
• The Saint's courage
• Mass of thanksgiving. (1129-1130)

CHAPTER C-4: A new attack on Norbert's life

• Diabolical plan
• Norbert is forced to leave Magdeburg
• His stay at Bergen
• Pronounces the excommunication
• Norbert's triumphant return
• His address
• Peaceful administration of the diocese
• Progress of the Order
• Habit of the German Fathers. (1130)

CHAPTER C-5: Schism of Peter di Leone

• Condition of the times
• Consequences of Schism
• Norbert's activity for the recognition of the lawful Pontiff
• Two important letters
• Diet of Wurzburg
• Antipope flatters Norbert
• Norbert is excommunicated by Anacletus
• Pope Innocent and Norbert visit Premontre
• Pope Confirms the Order. (1130-1131)

CHAPTER C-6: Intrigues of' Anacletus

• Innocent sets out for Rome
• St. Bernard
• Norbert's part in Italian expedition
• Imperial Chancellor
• Revolt at Augsburg
• Schemes of Anacletus frustrated by Norbert
• Admirable conduct of Norbert at Lothaire's coronation
• Primate of Germany
• Pope expresses gratitude to Norbert. (1132-1133)

CHAPTER C-7: Norbert returns to Magdeburg

• Drives out the evil spirit
• Raises three dead to life
• Foundation of Berne, Mother-Abbey of American foundation
• The Saint's last illness
• His thoughtfulness for the future
• His edifying death
• Dispute regarding the remains
• The solemn burial
• Apparitions. (1134)

CHAPTER C-8: Review of the principal events of Norbert's life