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Premonstratensian

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The Norbertines, also known as the Premonstratensians (OPraem) and in England, as the White Canons (from the colour of their habit), are a Christian religious order of Canons Regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, afterwards archbishop of Magdeburg. Premonstratensians are designated by O Praem following their name.

St. Norbert had made various efforts to introduce a strict form of canonical life in various communities of canons in Germany; in 1120 he was working in the diocese of Laon, and there in a desert place, called Prémontré, in Aisne, he and thirteen companions established a monastery to be the cradle of a new order. They were canons regular and followed the Rule of St. Augustine, but with supplementary statutes that made the life one of great austerity. Norbert was a friend of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and he was largely influenced by the Cistercian ideals as to both the manner of life and the government of his order. But as the Premonstratensians were not monks but Canons Regular, their work was preaching and the exercise of the pastoral office, and they served a large number of parishes incorporated in their monasteries.

History

The order was founded in 1120. In 1126, when it received papal approbation, there were nine houses; and others were established in quick succession throughout western Europe, so that at the middle of the fourteenth century there are said to have been over 1,300 monasteries for men and 400 for women. The Norbertines played a predominant part in the conversion of the Wends and the Christianizing of the territories around the Elbe and the Oder. In time mitigations and relaxations crept in, and these gave rise to reforms and semi-independent congregations within the order. The Norbertines came to England about 1143, first at Newhouse in Lincoln, and before the dissolution under Henry VIII there were 35 houses.

By the beginning of the nineteenth century the order had become almost extinct, only eight houses surviving, all in Austria. At the start of the twentieth century there were 20 monasteries and 1,000 priests. As of 2005, the number of monasteries had increased to nearly 100 and spread to every continent. In the twenty-first century, like all Canons Regular they follow the Augustinian Rule.

Famous Premonstratensians

Abbeys founded by the Premonstratensians

In Austria

In Belgium

In Cyprus

In Czechia

In France

In Germany

In Ireland

In Slovakia

In the UK

In England

In Northern Ireland

In Scotland

In Wales

In the USA

References

External links



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