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The Norbertines, also known as the Premonstratensians (OPraem) and in England, as the White Canons (from the colour of their habit), are a Christian religious order of Augustinian canons founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, afterwards archbishop of Magdeburg. Premonstratensians are designated by O Praem following their name.

St. Norbert had made various efforts to introduce a strict form of canonical life in various communities of canons in Germany; in 1120 he was working in the diocese of Laon, and there in a desert place, called Prémontré, in Aisne, he and thirteen companions established a monastery to be the cradle of a new order. They were canons regular and followed the Rule of St. Augustine, but with supplementary statutes that made the life one of great austerity. Norbert was a friend of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and he was largely influenced by the Cistercian ideals as to both the manner of life and the government of his order. But as the Premonstratensians were not monks but canons regular, their work was preaching and the exercise of the pastoral office, and they served a large number of parishes incorporated in their monasteries.

Contents 1 History 2 Famous Premonstratensians 3 Abbeys founded by the Premonstratensians 3.1 In Austria 3.2 In Belgium 3.3 In Cyprus 3.4 In Czechia 3.5 In France 3.6 In Germany 3.7 In Ireland 3.8 In Slovakia 3.9 In the UK 3.9.1 In England 3.9.2 In Northern Ireland 3.9.3 In Scotland 3.9.4 In Wales 3.10 In the USA 4 References 5 External links

The order was founded in 1120. In 1126, when it received papal approbation, there were nine houses; and others were established in quick succession throughout western Europe, so that at the middle of the fourteenth century there are said to have been over 1,300 monasteries for men and 400 for women. The Norbertines played a predominant part in the conversion of the Wends and the Christianizing of the territories around the Elbe and the Oder. In time mitigations and relaxations crept in, and these gave rise to reforms and semi-independent congregations within the order. The Norbertines came to England about 1143, first at Newhouse in Lincoln, and before the dissolution under Henry VIII there were 35 houses.

By the beginning of the nineteenth century the order had been almost exterminated, only eight houses surviving, all in Austria. At the start of the twentieth century there were 20 monasteries and 1,000 priests. As of 2005, the number of monasteries had increased to nearly 100 and spread to every continent. In the twenty-first century, because they follow the Augustinian Rule, this group is regarded as one of the Independent Augustinian Communities.

In the 1990s, Norbertines in Ireland came under fire for their complicity in covering up the crimes of Fr. Brendan Smyth, a member of the order who was convicted of child molestation.

• Robert J. Cornell (1919-), Democratic U.S. Congressman from Wisconsin from 1975-1979 and professor of political science at St. Norbert College.
• Astrik L. Gabriel (1907-2005), director of the Medieval Institute at the University of Notre Dame from 1952 to 1975.
• Johann Zahn (1631-1707), German canon who wrote on the camera obscura and who invented an early camera.
• Werenfried van Straaten (1913 - 2003), known for his humanitarian work, particularly as founder of the international Catholic association Aid to the Church in Need.

• Geras Abbey, Austria
• Wilten Abbey, Austria

• Averbode Abbey, Belgium
• Cornillon Abbey, Belgium
• Floreffe Abbey, Belgium
• Grimbergen Abbey, Belgium
• Heylissem Abbey, Belgium
• Parc Abbey, Belgium
• Postel Abbey, Belgium

• Bellapais Abbey, Cyprus

• Strahov Abbey, Czech Republic
• Teplá Abbey, Czech Republic

• Ardenne Abbey
• Moncel Abbey
• Pont-à-Mousson Abbey
• Prémontré Abbey

• All Saints' Abbey, Germany
• Lorsch Abbey, Germany
• Obermarchtal Abbey, Germany
• Pöhlde Abbey, Germany
• Schussenried Abbey, Germany
• Steingaden Abbey, Germany
• Rot an der Rot Abbey, Germany
• Weissenau Abbey, Germany

• Annaghdown Abbey, Ireland
• Ballineval Abbey, Ireland
• Carrickfergus Abbey, Ireland
• Druim la Croix (White Abbey), Ireland
• Holy Trinity Abbey, Ireland
• Abbeytown Abbey, Ireland
• Lough Key Abbey, Ireland
• Tuam Abbey, Ireland

• Jasov Klastor, Slovakia [1]

• Alnwick Abbey, England
• Barlings Abbey, England
• Bayham Abbey, England
• Beauchief Abbey, England
• Blanchland Abbey, England
• Corpus Christi Priory, England
• Dale Abbey, England
• Easby Abbey, England
• Egglestone Abbey, England
• Langley Abbey, England
• Leiston Abbey, England
• Newsham (Newhouse)Abbey, Lincolnshire, England
• Our Lady of England Priory [2], Storrington, UK
• Shap Abbey, England
• Titchfield Abbey, England
• Tupholme Abbey, England
• Welbeck Abbey, England

• Dercongal Abbey, Scotland
• Dryburgh Abbey, Scotland
• Fearn Abbey, Scotland
• Soulseat Abbey, Scotland
• Tongland Abbey, Scotland
• Whithorn Priory, Scotland

• Abaty Talyllychau ('Talley Abbey'), Wales

• Daylesford Abbey[3], Pennsylvania, USA
• St. Michael's Abbey[4], California, USA
• Saint Norbert Abbey[5], Wisconsin, USA

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition article "Premonstratensians", a publication now in the public domain.
• Helyot, Histoire des ordres réligieux (1714).
• Max Heimbucher, Orden u. Kongregationen (1907), ii. 56.
• Premonstratensian Canons from the Catholic Encyclopedia.

• Order Home Page
• Daylesford Abbey
• St. Norbert College - Private Catholic College(Norbertine Tradition)
• Archmere Academy - Catholic School in the Norbertine Tradition
• Archmere Alumni Association
• The website of a large, Norbertine monastery in Orange County, California
• The website of the Norbertine Community of Our Lady of England Priory, Storrington, West Sussex, UK
• The website of the Norbertine Fathers in Manchester, England
• Premonstratensian Canons. Catholic Encyclopedia.