Our Way of Life
Living as the Early Christians did
in the Acts of the Apostles
Background
The Norbertine Order is now over 875 years old, one of the oldest Roman Catholic religious orders in the world.
Communities of Norbertine priests and brothers can now be found in Holland, France, Belgium, England, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Austria, India, Congo, Hungary, Czech Republic, Canada, Brazil, Peru, the United States, South Africa and Australia.
The foundation of Our Life Together
Our Community life is founded on the concepts expressed in The Acts of the Apostles, the Rule of St. Augustine, and The Day of Pentecost (our Constitutions). All three of these sources celebrate the ideal of "communio" which is the key to Norbertine life.
The Acts tell how a part of the first Christian community (in Jerusalem) under the leadership of the Apostles, shared everything in common. They would sell their property and possessions and make a general distribution as the needs of each required. With one mind, they kept up their daily attendance in the temple and breaking bread in private houses, shared their meals with unaffected joy, as they praised God and enjoyed the favor of the whole people. (Acts, 2:44-47, 4:32)
The ideal of community prayer, community table and community life is one that has captured the imagination of Christians in every generation in the Western Church. It came to be known as "communio." The vision of "communio" - of the friendship of the members of a Christian community with God and one another was the very heart of the vision embraced by Norbert and his followers. The opening lines of the Rule of St. Augustine explain that the first purpose for which we have come together is to live in unity…to be of one mind and one heart on the way to God.
Over the centuries many communities, including that of Prémontré, would find in the Rule of St. Augustine the model of communion upon which the priests and brothers grounded their way of life.
Periodic Activities
Members of the community spend portions of the day together, celebrating the Eucharist, meditating on the scriptures, discussing topics relevant to our common life, sharing the experiences of our ministries, and enjoying each others' company.
At least once each week the Community gathers to celebrate the Eucharist and meditate in common on the scriptures, of the following Sunday's liturgy.
The Liturgy of the Hours (Morning and Evening Prayer) is celebrated each day at the priory.
Daily Eucharist (Masses) are celebrated in the communities in which we serve.
Each member of the priory assumes certain domestic and business responsibilities for our internal administration and upkeep.
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