Of Horses and Hosts

Today we would commemorate St. Norbert of Xanthen, whose journey to sainthood began like St. Paul on horseback.

Having lived a worldly life, Norbert was out riding when he was caught in a storm and his horse threw him to the ground. When he regained consciousness his first words were "Lord, what do you want me to do?" and the Lord spoke in his heart, "Turn from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it."Returning to his birthplace he practice prayer and penance before entering the priesthood and becoming an itinerant preacher. He was asked to reform the canons of Laon but because of their their resistance the bishop offered him land in Premontre to start his own community. Despite its strict rule, Norbert attracted many disciples whom he placed in eight abbeys and two convents. He also attracted layfolk whom he organised into a Third Order with rule and scapular. Upon being made bishop of Magdebourg he continued to practice austerity, entering the cathedral in rags and being turned aside by the porter until the crowds announced he was the bishop.

St. Norbert is remembered particularly for his fight against the heresy of Tanchelin, who denied the reality of the priesthood and whose sectaries profaned the Blessed Sacrament by burying the hosts in filthy places. Such was the eloquence of his preaching, the people abjured their heresy and returned the sacred hosts which remained undefiled.

Let us pray that we too might not profane our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, either when receiving him in communion or adoring him in the tabernacle, but may offer him the reverence which he rightly deserves.