Sunday, June 17, 2012
Traditional Mass Propers: Sunday within the Octave of the Sacred Heart (Third Sunday after Pentecost)


Vestments: White

The 1962 Missal used with Green Vestments for Third Sunday after Pentecost. Pre-1954 would be white vestments for the Sunday within the Octave of the Sacred Heart.

INTROIT
Psalms 24: 16, 18
Look Thou upon me, O Lord, and have mercy on me: for I am alone and poor. See my abjection and my labor; and forgive me all my sins, O my God. -- (Ps. 24. 1, 2). To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, my God, I put my trust: let me not be ashamed. V.: Glory be to the Father . . . -- Look Thou upon me . . .

COLLECT - O God, the Protector of those who put their trust in Thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: multiply upon us Thy mercy, that with Thee as our ruler, and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we may not lose those which are eternal. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost . . .

COMMEMORATION OF OCTAVE OF THE FEAST OF THE MOST SACRED HEART- O God, who in the Heart of Thy Son, wounded by our sins, dost mercifully vouchsafe to bestow upon us the boundless treasures of Thy love: grant, we beseech Thee, that we who now render Him the service of our devotion and piety, may also fulfill our duty of worthy satisfaction. Through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth . . .

Attached to the above Commemoration is an indulgence of 5 years. -- Plenary, under the usual conditions, if this prayer is recited daily during a month. -- P.P.O. n. 233.

EPISTLE
I Peter 5. 6-11
Dearly beloved, Be you humbled under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in the time of visitation; casting all your care upon Him, for He hath care of you. Be sober and watch, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist ye, strong in faith; knowing that the same affliction befalls your brethren who are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto the eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little, will Himself perfect you, and confirm you, and establish you. To Him be glory and empire for ever and ever. Amen.

GRADUAL
Ps. 54. 23, 17, 19
Cast Thy care upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee. V.: When I cried to the Lord He heard my voice, from them that draw near to me. Alleluia, alleluia. V.(Ps. 7. 12). God is a just judge, strong and patient: is He angry every day? Alleluia.

GOSPEL
Luke 15: 1-10
At that time, the publicans and sinners drew near unto Jesus to hear Him: and the Pharisees and Scribes murmured, saying: This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them. And He spoke to them this parable, saying: What man is there of you that hath a hundred sheep, and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which was lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, lay it upon his shoulders rejoicing an coming home, call together his friends and neighbors, saying to them: Rejoice with me because I have found my sheep that was lost? I say to you that even so there shall be more joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon niney-nine just who need no penance. Or what woman having ten groats, if she lose one groat doth not light a candle and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it? And when she hath found it, call together her friends and neighbors, saying: Rejoice with me because I have found the groat which I had lost? So I say to you, there shall be joy before the Angels of God upon one sinner doing penance.

OFFERTORY
Psalms 9: 11, 12, 13
Let them trust in Thee who know Thy Name, O Lord: for Thou hast not forsaken them that seek Thee: sing ye to the Lord, who dwelleth in Sion: for He hath not forgotten the cry of the poor.

SECRET -
Look, O Lord, upon the gifts of Thy suppliant Church: and grant that they may with constant hallowing be received unto the salvation of those who believe. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity . . .

COMMEMORATION OF OCTAVE OF THE FEAST OF THE MOST SACRED HEART- Have regard, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to the inexpressible love of the Heart of Thy beloved Son: so that what we offer may be a gift acceptable to Thee, and an expiation for our offenses. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost . .

PREFACE (Preface for the Feast of the Sacred Heart) - It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who didst will that Thine only-begotten Son, while hanging on the cross, should be pierced by a soldier's spear, that the Heart thus opened, a shrine of divine bounty, should pour out on us streams of mercy and grace, and that what never ceased to burn with love for us, should be a resting-place to the devout, and open as a refuge of salvation to the penitent. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:

COMMUNION
Luke 5:10 

I say to you: there is joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance.

POST COMMUNION -
May Thy holy Gifts, O Lord, which we have received, give us life: and having purified us, prepare us for Thine everlasting mercy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth . . .

COMMEMORATION OF OCTAVE OF THE FEAST OF THE MOST SACRED HEART-
May Thy holy mysteries, O Lord Jesus, impart to us divine fervor: whereby having tasted the sweetness of Thy most loving Heart, we may learn to despise earthly things, and to love what is heavenly: Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost . . .
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Friday, June 15, 2012
US Ordinations for the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX)



Ordinations to the priesthood of Our Lord Jesus Christ at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Winona, MN.  Please pray for these deacons to be ordained to the priesthood today, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of our Lord. 

Please join me in praying for these men as they receive Ordination to the Priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For the SSPX

Rev. Mr. Nicholas Gardner
Rev. Mr. Leo Haynos
Rev. Mr. Christopher Polley
Rev. Mr. Scott Graves
Rev. Mr. John McFarland
Rev. Mr. Steven Reuter

For the Benedictines of Silver City, NM

Br. Elias Campbell, OSB
Br. Andrew Menage, OSB
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Thursday, June 14, 2012
Solemn High Traditional Latin Mass at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral (May 5, 2012)

Solemn High Traditional Latin Mass and Crowning of Our Lady at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral last May 5, 2012, after the conclusion of the Annual May Procession. Mass was sung by the choir and choristers of St. Stephen the First Martyr Parish of Sacramento, California, USA. Father McNeely, FSSP, celebrant, is the pastoral administrator of St. Stephen the First Martyr in Sacramento.
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Wednesday, June 13, 2012
St. Anthony & the Mule: A Eucharistic Miracle

St Anthony of Padua The Miracle of the Mule by Joseph the Younger Heintz

A story of St. Anthony involves a mule. While St. Anthony was preaching, a local heretic came to him and stated that he would not believe in Our Lord's Real Presence in the Eucharist unless a mule would kneel before the Blessed Sacrament. St. Anthony prayed and then brought a mule to the heretic. In St. Anthony's right hand was the Blessed Sacrament, and in his left, he held oats. The mule refused the oats and knelt before the Blessed Sacrament. The heretic repented and submitted himself to the Catholic Church.

St. Anthony died on June 13, 1231, at a young age. On January 19, 1946, St. Anthony was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church.

Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony:

O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love for God and Charity for His creatures, made you worthy when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me (request). O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms; and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen.
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Sunday, June 10, 2012
Traditional Mass Propers: Second Sunday after Pentecost (Sunday within the Octave of Corpus Christi)

Vestments: Green

INTROIT
Psalms 17: 19, 20
The Lord became my protector, and He brought me forth into a large place: He saved me, because He was well pleased with me. -- (Ps. 17. 2, 3). I will love Thee, O Lord my strength: the Lord is my firmament, and my refuge, and my deliverer. V.: Glory be to the Father . . . The Lord became my protector . . .

COLLECT
Make us, O Lord, to have both a perpetual fear and a love of Thy holy Name: for Thou dost never deprive of Thy guidance those whom Thou dost establish steadfastly in Thy love. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth . . .

COMMEMORATION OF OCTAVE OF CORPUS CHRISTI
O God, who in a wonderful Sacrament hast left unto us the memorial of Thy Passion; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may so venerate the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Blood as to experience continually within ourselves the fruit of Thy Redemption. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

(unless the Feast of Corpus Christi is transferred to the 2nd Sunday After Pentecost, in which case only the propers for the Feast are said today) 

EPISTLE
I John 3. 13-18
Dearly beloved, Wonder not if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not, abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself. In this we have known the charity of God, because He hath laid down His live for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brethren in need, and shall shut up his bowels from him, how doth the charity of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

GRADUAL
Ps. 119: 1, 2
In my trouble I cried to the Lord, and He heard me. V.: O Lord, deliver my soul from wicked lips and a deceitful tongue. Alleluia, alleluia. V.(Ps. 17. 2). O Lord, my God, in Thee have I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me. Alleluia.



GOSPEL
Luke 14: 16-24
At that time, Jesus spoke to the Pharisees this parable: A certain man made a great supper, and invited many. And he sent his servant, at the hour of supper, to say to them that were invited, that they should come, for now all things were ready. And they began all at once to make excuse. The first said to him: I have bought a farm, and must needs go out, and see it; I pray thee hold me excused. And another said: I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to try them; I pray thee hold me excused. And another said: I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. And the servant returning, told these things to his lord. Then the master of the house being angry, said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the feeble, and the blind, and the lame. And the servant said: Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. But I say unto you, that none of these men that were invited shall taste of my supper.

OFFERTORY
Psalms 6:5
Turn to me, O Lord, and deliver my soul, O save me for Thy mercy's sake.

SECRET
May the offering, to be dedicated to Thy Name, O Lord, purify us, and day by day, carry us on the observances of a heavenly life. Through our Lord

COMMEMORATION OF OCTAVE OF CORPUS CHRISTI
Graciously bestow on Thy Church, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gifts of unity and peace, which are mystically shown forth in the gifts now offered. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost . . .

PREFACE (Preface of the Most Holy Trinity)
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:

COMMUNION
Ps 12:6 I will sing to the Lord, who giveth me good things: and I will sing to the Name of the Lord Most High.

POST COMMUNION 
We who have receive the sacred Gifts, beseech Thee, O Lord, that by the frequenting of the Mystery, the fruit of our salvation may increase. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost . . .

COMMEMORATION OF OCTAVE OF CORPUS CHRISTI
Make us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to be filled with the eternal enjoyment of Thy Divinity, which is prefigured by the reception in this life of Thy precious Body and Blood. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost . . .
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Friday, June 8, 2012
Corpus Christi at St. Vincent's Chapel (SSPX)

These beautiful images from yesterday's High Mass in honor of our Eucharistic King are courtesy of the SSPX's website.


Today's feast has 3 purposes:

1) To honor Our Lord, who is truly present in the Holy Eucharist
2) To instruct others on the faith, mystery, and devotion concerning the Holy Eucharist
3) To show our appreciation for the great gift of the Holy Eucharist


The Feast of Corpus Christi was instituted in the 13th Century to commemorate the Institution of the Eucharist. While we remember this on Holy Thursday, we also remember Christ's coming passion and death as well as the institution of the priesthood. For the sublime gift of the Holy Eucharist, we need another just set aside just to praise God for His unlimited humility and love. Imagine that bread and wine become the God of Heaven and Earth!

Around the early 1200s, Saint Juliana of Mont Cornillon received a vision concerning this feast at a young age. St. Juliana always had a strong devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. In her vision, she saw the Church under the appearance of the full moon. One large, dark spot was in the moon - symbolic of the absence of a solemnity to honor the Holy Eucharist. St. Juliana became an Augustinian nun in LiƩge, France, in 1206. Corpus Christi became a feast for the Diocese of Liege in 1246, and later in 1312 Corpus Christi became a mandatory feast in the Roman Catholic Church


Many parishes will have Eucharistic processions. These processions are endowed with indulgences by Popes Martin V and Eugene IV.
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St. Edmund Campion Missal & Hymnal


The St. Edmund Campion Missal & Hymnal is an upcoming 800-page Pew Book for the Traditional Latin Mass.  Commissioned and overseen by Corpus Christi Watershed, the project will feature a one-of-a-kind color missal (not only black and white).

I'd encourage you to take a few minutes to browse the website.  And, the website features a good number of beautiful images of the Traditional Latin Mass formatted to serve as screensavers.  Please browse those and consider them for your computer's background image.

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Thursday, June 7, 2012
New Interview with Bishop Fellay (June 2012)

This interview is via DICI.  Please visit their website for a complete transcript. Below is an excerpt from His Excellency's comments:

DICI: While awaiting the Roman decision, what are your interior dispositions? What dispositions would you wish for the priests and the faithful who are devoted to Tradition?

Bishop Fellay: In 1988, when Archbishop Lefebvre announced that he would consecrate four bishops, some encouraged him to do it and others tried to dissuade him from it. But our founder kept the peace, since he had nothing in view but the will of God and the good of the Church. Today these are the same interior dispositions that we should have. Like its holy Patron, the Society of Saint Pius X has the desire to “restore all things in Christ”. Some say that now is not the time, while others on the contrary say that this is the opportune moment. For my part, I know only one thing: it is always the moment to do God’s will, and He makes it known to us at an opportune time, provided that we are receptive to His inspirations. For this reason, I asked the priests to renew the consecration of the Society of Saint Pius X to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, on His feast day, June 15, and to prepare for it by a novena, during which the litanies of the Sacred Heart will be recited in all our houses. Everyone can join in asking for the grace to become docile instruments of the restoration of all things in Jesus Christ. (DICI no. 256 dated June 8, 2012)

Image Source: Bishop Bernard Fellay (CNS photo) via Catholicherald.co.uk
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Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Preparatory Novena for the Consecration of the SSPX to the Sacred Heart

Dear Faithful,

Our Superior General, His Excellency Bishop Fellay wishes to renew the Consecration of the Society of St. Pius X to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Friday, June 15, the Feast of the Sacred Heart. This will be done in all our houses during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

His Excellency asks that this renewal be preceded by a novena, to start immediately this Wednesday, June 6. The novena is to consist simply in the daily recitation of the Litany of the Sacred Heart in all our houses for the intention indicated. The Society was first consecrated to the Sacred Heart in 1992, and this consecration was renewed in 1994. The circumstances in which we currently find ourselves bring us, at Bishop Fellay’s request, to renew it once again, imploring blessings and graces from Heaven for our dear Society.

I would like to invite the faithful to join in this novena with the same generosity they have shown in the Rosary Crusades. I am honored and pleased to announce that the United States District prayed over 4 million rosaries in the most recent Crusade. I am grateful to all of you and convinced that this generosity will be source of many graces for the Society here in America. Please recall that 8 new priests, 6 for the Society of St. Pius X and 2 for Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery, will be ordained in Winona on June 15.

I encourage you to come in great numbers for this joyous event, and together with us renew the Consecration to the Sacred Heart requested by Bishop Fellay for that day. I assure you of my prayers and give you my blessing, in the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Fr. Arnaud Rostand
District Superior
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Glorious St. Norbert, Founder of the Premonstratensians

Today the Holy Catholic Church remembers the life of St. Norbert (c. 1080 - June 6, 1134). Born at Xanten, Germany into nobility, St. Norbert served as an almoner for Emperor Henry V. Living a worldly life, St. Norbert decided to receive Holy Orders only as part of a career move. St. Nobert joined the joined the Benedictines at Siegburg and after a narrow escape from death, took his vows seriously and experienced an interior conversion.


In the United States, there still exists vibrant Norbertine communities.  I was given the opportunity back in 2009 to review "Anthology: Chants and Polyphony from St. Michael's Abbey". The CD features the recordings of the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey. While I have heard first-hand experience of the Norbertine order falling headfirst into liberalism, St. Michael's Abbey remains as a beacon of hope for the order. The CD features 18 beautifully Catholic titles including Exultet, Attende Coelum, Panis Angelicus, Ave Maria, Verbum Caro, and more! I highly recommend this CD to all Catholics.

This same community released a CD on Gregorian Chant from the Requiem Mass last year and I reviewed and endorsed that CD as well.


Saint Norbert, Bishop and Confessor
(from the Liturgical Year, 1904)

The helpful influence of the Holy Ghost is more and more multiplied, along the Church's path. It seems as though He would show us today, how the divine power of His action is not crippled by lapse of years: for here we have, twelve centuries after his first coming among us, miracles of grace and conversion quite as brilliant as those that marked His glorious descent upon earth.

Norbert, in whose veins flowed the best blood of emperors and kings, was, from the very breast of his mother, Hedwige, supernaturally invited to a nobility loftier still: yet did he devote, to the unreserved enjoyment of pleasure, three and thirty years of a life that was to number but fifty in all. The Holy Ghost at length hastened to the conquest. There bursts a sudden storm, a thunderbolt falls right in front of the prodigal, throwing him to the ground and making a frightful chasm, between him and the point whither, a moment ago, he was hastening in pursuit of new vanities that needs must fail, as all others had done, to fill the hopeless void in his heart. Then, in the very depths of his soul resounds a voice, such as Saul once heard on his way to Damascus: "Norbert, whither goest thou?" Like another Paul he replies: " Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? " He is answered: " Depart from evil and do good; seek after peace and pursue it." Twenty years later, and Norbert is in heaven, seated amidst pontiffs, upon a glorious throne, and all radiant with that special brilliancy, that distinguishes the Founders of the great Religious Orders, when they have reached the eternal Home.

Deep are the traces left by him on earth, of his few years of penitential life. Germany and France receive his preaching; Antwerp is delivered from a shameful heresy; Magdeburg is rescued by this her Archbishop, from the irregularities that were sullying the House of God: such are his works; and though these alone would have sufficed to a long life of holiness, yet they are not the only titles, nor the most brilliant which Norbert has to the Church's gratitude. Before being called, against his will, to the honours of the episcopate, this once gay courtier, made choice of an uninhabitable solitude amidst the forests of the diocese of Laon, wherein to devote himself to prayer and to the maceration of his flesh. The renown of this holy penitent gained rapidly; and Premontre soon beheld her swampy marshes invaded by a vast multitude, formed of the fairest names of picked nobility, pressing thither to learn the science of salvation, from the lips of the saintly anchorite. There too, did Our Lady show to him, in vision, the white habit wherewith his disciples were to be clothed; and Saint Augustine, in like manner, delivered to him his own Rule. Thus was founded the most illustrious branch of the Order of Canons Regular. They add to the obligation of solemnizing the Divine Office, the austerities of an uninterrupted penance; and devote themselves, moreover, to the service of souls, by preaching and the administration of parishes.

In the foregoing century, the episcopacy and papacy had been raised by the monks, from out the reach of feudal servitude; and Norbert was now raised up, to give the needed completion to their work. Although, on principle, the monastic life excludes no sort of labour useful to the Church, the monks could not (however numerous they might be) quit their cloisters, in order to undertake charge of souls. Yet, great were the wants of the lambs of the flock, at that time, for many unworthy pastors of secondary order, slaves to simony and immorality, still continued to lead astray the simple laity. The religious life was alone capable of raising the priesthood from such degradation, whether on the pinnacles of the hierarchy or amongst the lowest degrees of sacred Orders. Norbert was the man chosen by God to effect, in part at least, this immense work: and the importance of his mission explains the sublime prodigality wherewith the Holy Ghost multiplied vocations to his standard. The number and rapidity of foundations, permitted succour to be promptly and everywhere afforded. Even into the far East did the light of Premontre reach, almost at its first dawn. In the eighteenth century, notwithstanding the devastations of the Turks and the ravages of the pretended Reform, the Order, divided into twenty-eight provinces, still contained, in nearly each one of its houses, as many as from fifty to one hundred and twenty Canons; and the parishes that continued under their care, might be counted by thousands.

Nuns, whose holy life and prayers are the ornament and aid of the Church militant, occupied from the very beginning, the place deservedly their due in this numerous family. In the time of the founder, or soon after his death, there were more than a thousand of them, at Premontre alone. Such an incredible sum gives us an idea of the prodigious propagation of the Order, from its very origin. Norbert moreover extended his charity to persons, who like Thibault Count of Champagne, would gladly have followed him into the desert, but who were retained by God's will in the world; he thus made a prelude to those pious associations, which we shall see Saint Francis and Saint Dominic organizing, in the thirteenth century, under the name of "Third Orders."


The Liturgy thus condenses the life of this great servant of God:

Norbert, born of parents of the highest rank, thoroughly educated in his youth, in worldly knowledge, and then a member of the imperial court, turned his back upon the glory of the world, and chose rather to enlist himself as a soldier of the Church. Being ordained priest, he laid aside all soft and showy raiment, clad himself in a coat of skins, and made the preaching of the word of God the one object of his life. Having renounced the ecclesiastical revenues which he possessed and which were very considerable, he distributed likewise his patrimony among the poor. He ate only once a day and that in the evening, and then his meal was of Lenten fare. His life was of singular austerity, and he was used even in the depth of winter, to go out with bare feet and ragged garments. Hence came that mighty power of his words and whereby he was enabled to turn countless heretics to the faith, sinners to repentance, and enemies to peace and concord.

Being at Laon, the bishop besought him not to leave his diocese, and he therefore made choice of a wilderness, at a place called Premontre, whither he withdrew himself with thirteen disciples, and thus he founded the Order of Premonstratensians, whereof he received the Rule in a holy vision, from Saint Augustine. When, however, the fame of his holy life became every day more and more noised abroad, and great numbers sought to become his disciples, and the Order had been approved by Honorius II. and other Popes, many more monasteries were built by him, and the Institute wonderfully extended.

Being called to Antwerp, he there gave the deathblow to the shameful heresy of Tauchelin. He was remarkable for the spirit of prophecy and for the gift of miracles. He was created, (albeit against his will,) archbishop of Magdeburg, and as such, was a strong upholder of the discipline of the Church, especially as regards celibacy. At a council held at Rheims, he was a great help to Innocent II, and went with other bishops to Rome, where he repressed the schism of Peter de Leon. At last, this man of God full of good works and of the Holy Ghost, fell asleep the Lord, at Magdeburg, in the year of Salvation eleven hundred and thirty four, on the sixth day of June.
Prayer:


Thou didst indeed know how to redeem the time (Eph. v. 16), as was fitting in those evil days, wherein thou thyself, O Norbert, led away by the example of the senseless crowd, hadst for so long frustrated the designs of God's love. Those years, at first refused by thee to the true Master of the world, thou didst at length return unto Him, multiplied a hundredfold, through those countless sons and daughters thou didst train up in sanctity. Even thy personal works, in but twenty years' space, filled the whole earth. Schism crushed; heresy confounded to the glory of the Most Holy Sacrament which it had already dared to attack; the rights of the Church, intrepidly defended against worldly princes and unjust retentions; the priesthood restored to its primitive purity; the Christian life strengthened on its true basis, namely prayer and penance; such and so many victories achieved in so few years, are due to the generosity which prevented thee from looking back, for one moment, from the day where in the Holy Ghost touched thy heart. Do thou make all understand that it is never too late to begin to serve God. Were it even, as in thy case, the evening-fall of life, what yet remains of time would quite suffice to make us saints, if we would but generously give that little, fully to Heaven (1 St. Pet. iv. 2).


Faith and Patience were thy cherished virtues; make them flourish once more, in this sad world of ours, which vaunts itself on doubting of everything, and with gibe and jeer hurries onward to the abyss of hell. Forget not, dear Apostle, now that thou art in heaven, the countries thou didst formerly evangelize: we implore this of thee, despite their forgetfulness, despite their criminal return to the deceits of the devil.


Holy Pontiff, Magdeburg has lost her ancient faith, and therewith, the precious relics of thy body, which she no longer deserved to possess: Prague is now the favoured spot of thy repose. But, whilst blessing this hospitable city, pray still for the ungrateful one that has cast aside her double treasure. O thou Founder of Premontre, smile once more on France, who derives from thee one of her fairest glories. Obtain of God, that for the salvation of these calamitous times, thine Order may recover something of its former splendour. Bless, few as they are, those sons and daughters of thine who, despite the ridiculous hostility of the powers that be, seek to shed once more their beneficent influence on France. May our own England benefit also of their return to her midst, and may their fruits be multiplied in every direction. Maintain thine own spirit among them; may they find in interior peace, the secret of triumph over Satan and his crew; may the full magnificence of the divine worship solemnly carried out, be ever unto their souls, as the dearly loved mount, whence Moses like, they may declare the Will of the Lord, unto the new Israel, the Christian people.

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