Saint Norbert, Bishop

Saint Norbert was a man who did not start out as a holy person. He was born around the year 1080 in what is now Germany. He lived during a time when the Church needed many changes. Many priests were not living holy lives. Some were greedy or careless.

Norbert was not very serious about his faith at first. He lived a rich and easy life. He worked for the emperor and had many comforts. He did not seem very interested in God.

But God had other plans. Something happened that changed Norbert’s life. He did not expect it. But after this event, he gave up everything. He began to live a simple life. He wanted to follow Jesus more closely.

Norbert is remembered today because he helped renew the Church. He preached the Gospel. He started a new religious order. He also became a bishop. His life shows that God can call anyone, even someone who starts out going the wrong way.

Norbert was riding his horse one day when a big storm came. Lightning struck very close to him. He fell off his horse. He thought he was going to die. This moment shook him deeply.

After the storm, Norbert started to think about his life. He saw that he had been living for himself. He had been lazy in his faith. He decided to change. He gave up his rich clothes and his easy job. He chose a life of prayer and service.

He went to be trained as a priest. He began to live simply. He fasted. He prayed. He walked from town to town and preached. People listened because they saw he was serious. He spoke the truth, even when it was hard to hear.

His conversion was real. He did not go back to his old ways. He kept moving forward. He wanted to live for God alone. This change was the start of his new mission.

Norbert became a traveling preacher. He walked from place to place. He spoke to big crowds. He asked people to turn back to God. He told priests to live holy lives. He told laypeople to follow Jesus more closely.

Not everyone liked what he said. Some people felt angry. Some priests did not want to change. But Norbert did not stop. He kept preaching. He kept walking. He trusted that God would take care of him.

He wore simple clothes and had few belongings. He fasted often. He prayed many times each day. His life showed that he practiced what he preached. Many people respected him because of this.

Some people began to follow him. They wanted to live like him. They wanted to give up everything for Jesus. This would lead to something new. Norbert was about to start a new religious order.

In 1120, Norbert started a new religious community. It was called the Premonstratensians. They are also known as the Norbertines. He started the order in a place called Prémontré, in France.

The men in the order lived together. They prayed together. They celebrated Mass together. They also preached and helped people. They lived simply. They shared everything in common.

Norbert wanted this order to help bring the Church back to holiness. He trained his brothers to be good priests. He told them to teach the people and help the poor. He wanted them to stay close to Jesus in everything.

The order grew quickly. Many people joined. The Norbertines spread to other countries. They are still active today in many places. They continue the mission Norbert started.

Later in life, Norbert was made the Archbishop of Magdeburg. This was a hard job. The people there did not want him. Some even tried to stop him from entering the city.

But Norbert stayed calm. He prayed. He forgave his enemies. Over time, people saw that he was a good man. They began to trust him. He worked hard to clean up problems in the Church.

He made sure priests were well-trained. He helped the poor. He brought peace where there was fighting. He did not live in luxury. He stayed simple, even as a bishop.

Norbert stayed in this role until his death. He showed that a bishop should be a servant. He did not seek power. He only wanted to serve Christ.

Saint Norbert died in the year 1134. He was remembered as a man who changed, followed God, and helped others do the same. In 1582, he was officially made a saint by Pope Gregory XIII.

His feast day is June 6. On this day, the Church remembers his life and mission. He is the patron saint of peace and of those who are trying to make up for past sins.

His religious order, the Norbertines, is still active today. They run schools, parishes, and missions. They continue to preach, teach, and live in community, just as he taught them.

Saint Norbert’s life shows that it is never too late to follow God. He teaches us that change is possible. He also reminds us that the Church needs holy people who will speak the truth with love.

Man on Fire: The Life and Spirit of Norbert of Xanten

Man on Fire: The Life and Spirit of Norbert of Xanten is a short and easy-to-read biography of Saint Norbert. It tells the story of his bold life as a Church reformer, preacher, priest, bishop, and founder of the Norbertine order. Though he lived 900 years ago, his work still matters today. The book explains why many people don’t know much about him, especially in America. It also shows how the Norbertines survived many hard times in history. This book helps readers get to know Norbert in a simple and modern way, even if they’ve never heard of him before.