Homily: June 6 - Saint Norbert, Bishop - Program for renewal

About a thousand years ago, there lived a man by the name of Norbert who started a religious order called the Premonstratensians.  For some reason, most people know them today as the Norbertines.    Norbert was of noble birth, and when he was ordained a subdeacon he was chaplain to the emperor, and put in charge of dispersing alms to the poor.  However, Norbert began to take on a lot of the bad habits of the emperor’s court, and became very worldly.  During a violent thunderstorm, Norbert had a close brush with death which led to his conversion. 

And when he was ordained a priest, in 1115, Norbert gave away all of his possessions and moved to the valley of Premontre in northern France, from which we get the name Premonstratensian. 

As a priest and later as an archbishop, Norbert spent many hours in contemplation of the divine mysteries.  Consequently, His preaching and teaching were infused with the fruit of his time in prayer.

Part of his plan for renewal and evangelization in his diocese was deep devotion to the Holy Scriptures.  He encouraged the members of his religious order to read the scriptures often, and to pattern their lives after the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Norbert was also devoted to the Blessed Sacrament, and Norbert attributed the conversion of sinners , the reform of the clergy, and the spread of the Gospel throughout his diocese to time spent in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.  Religious art often depicts him holding a monstrance or kneeling in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

Here is a wonderful patron saint for our Year of Faith.  A man who, although a subdeacon, had a much deeper conversion which had a powerful impact on his life.  A man whose preaching was supercharged by his study of scripture and Adoration of the Eucharist.

There is a program for renewal that each of us are to follow: to always seek that deeper conversion to the Lord, and to let our words and our deeds infused with the fruit of study and prayer.  May we know the prayers of Saint Nortbert today in our daily conversion and evangelization for the glory of God and salvation of souls.