Norbert, St (c. 1080-1134)

German founder of the Premonstratensian monastic order in 1120 and bishop of Magdeburg. He defended the doctrine of the Real Presence and fostered the cult of the Blessed Sacrament. He was canonized in 1582; his feast day is 6 June.

Norbert was born into a princely family in Xanten. He led a worldly life at court and received holy orders for the sake of material advancement. In 1115, however, a narrow escape from death brought about his conversion. After trying to reform the chapter of canons at Xanten he became an itinerant preacher. Given the territory of Prémontré near Laon in 1120, he established a community of canons regular under the Augustinian rule, since known as Premonstratensians or Norbertines. His new order quickly spread throughout Western Europe.