Daily Saint

St. Norbert was a twelfth-century reformer whose conversion and leadership helped renew the Church through preaching, community life, and devotion to the Eucharist.

He was born in eleventh-century Germany into a noble family closely connected with the imperial court. As a young man, Norbert’s family influence secured appointments for him within the Church. Ordained as a subdeacon, he lived a comfortable life and initially showed little interest in deeper spiritual commitment.

A transformative experience changed the course of his life. According to tradition, Norbert was traveling on horseback during a violent storm when lightning struck nearby, throwing him from his horse. Shaken by the near-death experience, he saw it as a call to conversion and resolved to dedicate his life more completely to God.

Norbert soon embraced a life of prayer, penance, and preaching. He traveled through parts of France and Germany, encouraging reform within the Church and calling Christians to renewed fidelity to the Gospel.

In 1120, he founded a religious community in the Prémontré valley in northern France. The community followed the Rule of St. Augustine with additional practices of monastic asceticism and Eucharistic and Marian devotions. The members became known as the Norbertines.

Norbert’s reputation for holiness and leadership eventually led to his appointment as Archbishop of Magdeburg in 1126. In this role, he worked to strengthen Church discipline, promote peace among rival factions, and support missionary work among neighboring peoples.

He died on June 6, 1134, in Magdeburg. Drawing his strength from the Eucharist and daily prayer, St. Norbert’s service to the community was reflected by his motto, “Be prepared for every good work.”