850th anniversary of death of St.Norbert von Xanten - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 1984 - 80 Pfennig

850th anniversary of the death of St. Norbert of Xanten Saint Norbert of Xanten is one of the founders of the Premonstratensian Order, as Archbishop of Magdeburg, as Chancellor of Lothar III. for Italy and not least as a church reformer to the great personalities of German history. Norbert was born around 1080 as Lord of Gennep near Xanten. His family is probably related to the royal family. Not uncommon at that time, he is endowed with a donation at the Xantener Viktorstift very young and later goes to the court of Emperor Henry V. In 1115, after a deeply shocking experience, Norbert gives his amazement to the public From now on, dedicated to the penance and renewal of the Church, especially the renewal of the clergy. The reform efforts of Norbert meet especially in the clergy on much lack of understanding. After being reproached at the Synod of Fritzlar for his sermons and his way of life as a penitent, he renounces his fortune, goes to France and acts there after granting the sermon by the Pope as a traveling preacher. His themes: repentance, reparation, duties of the rich against the poor, duties of spouses and, recurring, peace. People are fascinated by his language skills. In a contemporary source it says about him: "I am sure that since the time of the apostles there has been no one who has made so many people followers of Christ in such a short time." In 1120 Norbert begins, influenced by Bernhard Clairvaux and the Order of the Cistercians, in the valley of Prémontré near Laon, with the founding of a Reformed Order named after the mother monastery of the Premonstratensian Order. The first branch of the rapidly spreading order in the German-speaking world takes place in 1122 to Cappenberg in Münsterland. After the papal confirmation of the Premonstratensian Order Norbert 1126 the leadership of the Archdiocese of Magdeburg transferred. The urgently needed renewal of the clergy succeeds the archbishop only with great difficulty and against some bitter resistance. When 1130 two popes are elected, Norbert takes a party for Innocent II against Anaklet II. Under his influence, King Lothar III. in August 1132 from Würzburg to Rome, in order to prevent the divisional division threatening as a result of the double election. Even after the coronation of Lothar in 1133, Norbert, now chancellor for Italy, constantly strives for balance and peace between Pope and Emperor. Tremendous travel in the service of the empire feed on his health. On June 6, 1134, 850 years ago, he probably died in Magdeburg as a result of malaria. (Text: Commissariat of German Bishops, Bonn)