FORMATION HISTORY

Norbertine Association of St. Joseph

Tehachepi, California, U.S.A.

 

Introduction

Dear family, confreres, friends, and benefactors, we share your happiness as you joyfully await the birthday of our Beloved Savior on this eve of the Great Jubilee Year 2000!  The Son of God presents Himself as the Bridegroom-Messiah come to seal the marriage of God with humanity, in a wondrous exchange of love, which begins in the Incarnation, comes to its summit of self-offering in the Passion, and is forever given as gift in the Eucharist.[---1---]  The Eucharist, the Body of Christ at the altar, is the same as that born of the Blessed Virgin Mary which the Faithful are encouraged to receive daily.

The pastoral message and practice of our founder St. Norbert centered on the celebration of the sacrament of the Eucharist as the center of our life.  In fact, St. Norbert is typically depicted as holding the monstrance [---2---] as he crushes the devil's head with his foot.  This is because Norbert defended the Real Presence against the followers of the priest-heretic Tanchelm in Antwerp, Belgium -- who erroneously taught that the Eucharist was of no value and that the power of the sacrament depends upon the virtue of the minister.  Through his preaching, Norbert was able to bring all those in error back to a true understanding of the priesthood and sacraments.[---3---]

A Red Letter Day![---4---] 

On the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, a momentous occasion occurred in the short history of our Association, our Mother Mary Augustine made her First Profession.  At St. Michael's Abbey, Orange, California, she made the following profession in the hands of our Father Abbot Eugene J. Hayes: "I renounce the world, and I promise a conversion of my ways and life in community, especially in poverty, consecrated celibacy and obedience..."   This was a profound moment for her spiritual daughters who aspire to follow in her footsteps.  It was also a unique and historic moment for our confreres at the Abbey, as this is the only time a Norbertine Canoness will make her profession at St. Michael's Abbey in the hands of Father Abbot Eugene J. Hayes.  Those who will follow will make their profession in the hands of Mother Mary Augustine. 

Acquisition of Monastery Property

Recently, the Association and St. Michael's Abbey announced the acquisition of a former ranch in Tehachepi, California, located north of Los Angeles in the Fresno diocese, on which to build the first American Norbertine convent.  There were several factors which influenced the purchase of this particular piece of property: (1) the silence, solitude and separation necessary to protect the integrity of the wholly contemplative life;[---5---] (2) the fact that the site's characteristics of silence, solitude and separation is in accordance with Norbertine spirituality, for as St. Norbert said to Barthelemy de Jur: "I do not want to live in the cities, I prefer the deserted and uncultivated places"; (3) affordability (in contrast to the astronomical land costs in Orange county); (4) the emergence of a supportive, growing Catholic community in the region, and finally (5) the fact that this land is "gifted" meaning that the land is capable of sustaining cottage businesses that could be developed to not only provide for the Sisters, but also as a means to pay back the loan to our Norbertine confreres.  It goes without saying that we are immensely grateful to all our confreres for their prayerful support and confidence.

The monastery is intended "with its distinctive architectural form, to create a space of separation, solitude and silence, where God can be sought more freely [---6---].  To that end, our Norbertine confreres and benefactors under the competent direction of Father Gregory, O. Praem. have been working diligently to get the existing buildings into shape, so that the canonesses may live the Norbertine religious life in its ancient rigor.  The plans for the first phase of renovation include: the main building which will serve as our common building - containing the Chapel with the Sisters' choir and a reserved area for guests with its own access to the Church, the sacristy, the library, the kitchen and refectory, recreation room, sewing room and vestry, and some offices.  The detached 4-car garage will be converted to work areas containing a wood shop, laboratory for soap and herbal concoctions, laundry, etc.  Another building may be used as a parlor and gift shop to sell the products made by our Sisters or from other monasteries.  We also have a Quonset hut which will continue to be used to store farm machinery and supplies.   Trailers will be employed to house the canonesses and serve as additional storage.  

"God makes men of one mind to dwell in a house."[---7---]  The immediate task at hand is to get the existing buildings into sufficiently adequate shape to house the Sisters, as well as the aspirants who are discerning a Norbertine vocation.  The Norbertine charism centers around the Eucharist.  As you may have gathered from what was started above, the Norbertine charism centers on the ministry of the Eucharist at the altar, in the choir, and in the tabernacle.  As priests, they celebrate the Eucharist at the altar.   As canons they extend the mystery of the Eucharist throughout the day by chanting the Liturgy of the Hours in the choir.  The Liturgy of the Hours and Mass belong together; they form a unity, the liturgical day.  We might compare the relationship to the sun and the planets.  The Mass is the sun about which the planets, that is, the canonical hours, gravitate.  The canonical hours prepare us for the Mass, they surround the Mass, they try to realize and retain the fruits of the Mass and spread them over the day. [---8---]  As defenders of the Real Presence, Norbertines honor the Tabernacle as the shrine of the authentic sacramental presence of Jesus among us.[---9---]

Formation of the Canonesses

What about the Norbertine canonesses?   For the Norbertine, the celebration of the liturgy is the first and essential form of our apostolate.  When the liturgy is celebrated in medio populi (amidst the people), it allows Norbertines to achieve more fully the goal of St. Norbert when he brought together at Premontre canons and hundreds of lay men and women.  At the beginning of the Premonstratensian life, there existed double monasteries for men and women who came together for Mass and the Divine Office.  Within the first century of Norbertine existence, these  double monasteries were separated, and the lay Sisters established their own monasteries.  Because they were separated from the Canons, but lived according to the same Constitutions as the Canons, they became Canonesses Regular whose main work was to assist at Mass and chant the Divine Office.  Thus, for Norbertine Canonesses, unlike other nuns who have private chapels which can be opened or closed to the public at will, as Canonesses, our church must be open to the public during the times of Mass and Liturgy of the Hours.

In line with the Norbertine tradition of offering hospitality to those who wish to extend their participation in the sacramental and prayer life of our community, we envision building a small retreat house where individual retreatants who wish to recoup their spiritual energy can spend more time in solitude and prayer.  Those who wish to draw on the spiritual experience of the community may ask for a Sister to help them in this endeavor while always maintaining the physical separation that is part of the wholly contemplative life.[---9a---]  This will of course mean raising the necessary funds to construct a proper building.  A separate retreat house for priests is also forseen.  Another highlight of the year was the completion of our "canonical year of novitiate" with the Dominican Nuns of the Rosary Monastery in Buffalo New York.  Thanks be to God for Mother Rose of St. Mary, OP, Prioress and our Dominican Sisters who graciously welcomed and generously accepted us into their community for our "canonical " which we completed in June.

You have entered upon a time of trial but you will come to no harm -- God's help will bring you through it safely.  The novitiate, some say, is when one learns to "walk and talk" like a nun.   However, it is not sufficient to exchange a secular or worldly place of living and garb for a religious one.  Conversion of our ways demands an internal newness of mind which is merely marked by the external change from lay clothing to the religious habit.   Adam Scotus, O. Praem. tells us to "put off the contagion of your old self, and put on the beauty of a holy newness."  He lists no fewer than twenty-seven examples of this newness.  To name a few, he says: "if  you have been proud, be humble, if irascible, meek; if you've given your members to serve iniquity, than strive to let them serve justice for sanctification.  The Magi, he says, were given the advice "not to return to Herod, i.e., conformed to this world, but to return home by another way, i.e. reformed in newness of your understanding."[---10---]

Christ himself is the wall!  People often jokingly ask if the walls surrounding the convent are deliberately built so high in order to prevent the nuns from escaping the monastery!  Father Sam, Dominican chaplain, has a perfect response to that popular inquiry, and that is: "Christ, Himself, is the wall!  No wall could possibly ever be constructed high enough to keep a nun in the monastery if our Lord was not calling her more closely to Himself and providing her the grace to do so."

Our return trip from New York to St. Michael's Abbey in July provided us with a second opportunity to do more research regarding cottage industries compatible with the contemplative life.  We take this opportunity to thank all the communities who welcomed us.  We were graciously received and were the recipients of true Christian hospitality and charity.

Phase II of Our Religious Formation -- Enrichment from European Norbertines

August 31st found us on a plane to Europe to begin another phase of our formation.  Since there are no American Norbertine Canonesses who could transmit our spiritual family's traditions to us and because little has been written about them, it was decided that our religious formation should be augmented by visiting the 7 existing houses of Norbertine Canonesses: 2 in Spain, 1 in France, 1 in Belgium, 1 in Holland, and 2 in Poland, with an 8th being refounded in the Czech Republic, as well as Norbertine congregations (in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary), and "public associations of the faithful" in France and Holland. We were greatly aided by our Norbertine confreres in France, Belgium, Holland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia, our "grandmother abbey" in Csorna, Hungary, Austria, and the Generalate in Rome.  We were also able to visit a sprinkling of other religious communities of Benedictines, other groups of Canonesses Regular, Dominicans, Capuchins, and Carmelites.

The sisters made us feel at home by their hospitality and generosity.  Visiting the convents and learning about th elife from the Sisters increased in my heart the ardent desire to live more intensely my Norbertine vocation for the glory of God, the Church, and our Order.

We are tremendously grateful to our many confreres and benefactors who sacrificed their time, energy, and sleep to be our guides, drivers, tutors, and translators.  We pray for the opportunity to someday be able to return their graciousness and generosity.

The Gates of Hell Shall not Prevail

While it was a pleasure to meet and interact with members of our Norbertine family, it was also sobering and inspiring to meet with Sisters and Confreres who have survived hostile military invasions, skirmisches, and occupation, and whose Faith has transcended the national suppression of our Catholic Faith and religious communities.  It was not uncommon for us to pray in chapels and churches whose walls, paintings, frescos, glass, and marble bear the battle-scars of shrapnel as tangible reminders of the suffering brough forth by godlessness.

But lest we despair, how often did we witness the "phoenix rising from the ashes".  For example, our "grandmother abbey" of Csorna, Hungary was made the Central Headquarters of the Communist Party in 1950 until the communist government's collapse in 1990.  Csorna's Father Abbot Edmund was president of his class when St. Norbert's Gymnasium (High School) was shut down by the communists.  He told us how it has been his greatest happiness to reopen the doors of St. Norbert's as the abbot of the restored abbey of St. Michael's, Csorna.  At the Norbertine monastery of Doksany, in the Czech Republic, more than 200 nuns had been burnt at the stake by the disciples of Jan Huss.  Now the monastery is being refounded!  In Prague, during the time of the communist regime, some Carmelites had been evicted from their convent.  During this time it had been turned into a 4-star hotel welcoming the likes of Castro and Qaddafi, while continuing to house the incorrupt body of the monastery's foundress!  It is once again a Carmelite monastery!  

We were told of heroic, faith-filled Norbertine souls who had their novitiate, seminary, profession, and ordination "underground" (sometimes literally in basements).  Their religious commitment was often unknown to their own families, even parents!   Thanks to far-sighted individuals, Catholic art and treasures found haven in the homes of loyal Catholic families or were sent out-of-the country to be returned later when it was safe.  "The seven original Norbertines set out about twenty or more years ago, determined to establish a house of the Order in the United States.  They worked together faithfully and with determination, and God has blessed their efforts.  Their achievement is nothing short of amazing."[---11---]

One of the highlights of the European phase of our formation was to be able to see the spot where five of the seven founding fathers of St. Michael's Abbey, Orange, California made their escape across the Hungarian-Austrian border in the early 1950's.  Their combined experiences include: hiking 15 kilometers through a twilight forest in the wee hours, hiding out more than 12 hours in a hayloft less than one kilometer east of the border and the Russian occupied sector of Austria, traversing countryside which was studded with barbed wire and land mines, swimming across the Ferto river which marked the actual border, and -- once in Austria -- travelling concealed under rags and trash on a flatbed truck by dirt road and back alleys to avoid the occupying Russians.[---12---].

We were told that Father Abbot Parker, at one point, was so bold as to hitch a wagon ride with some Russian soldiers and engage them in conversation so they would not suspect him of being an escapee.

Since Our Arrival Back in the United States

We arrived back in the States from the European segment of our formation on November 5th.  We were warmly welcomed at International Airport in Los Angeles by Father Abbot Euguene and Fr. Nicholas, O. Praem.   They immediately drove us to our "temporary convent" at Immaculate Heart of Mary convent in Santa Ana, located about one-half hour from St. Michael's Abbey.   Rev. Enrique Serra, pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church generously offered the convent to us until the Tehachapi property is ready.  It is a great blessing for many reasons.  Because of Fr. Serra's generosity, not only do we have a place to live (which is a great thing in itself), but we have a chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved!  We have already been able to receive several aspirants and visitors interested in discerning Norbertine vocations.  Seven aspirants have already "lived" with us spending anywhere from a weekend to several weeks, participating in the sacramental, prayer, and common life of our little community.  Thanks to Fr. Serra and our Norbertine priest-confreres (who daily come to celebrate Holy Mass for us) we have been able to offer those discerning vocations a more accurate idea of Norbertine life.

When we arrived at the house, we were graciously received by one of our aspirants who worked with Fr. Gregory, O. Praem. in preparing our new surroundings for us by cleaning the house which had not been occupied since July, getting us some supplies, and cooking us a wonderful Mexican-style dinner.   It was a lovely welcome and surprise.

We will stay in Santa Ana until March, 2000, when we will anticipate that the Tehachepi property and buildings will be ready.   Our days, as usual, are full with prayer, work and study.  Father Abbot Eugene, and some of our Norbertine confreres give us weekly classes on Gregorian chant, Norbertine spirituality, and the Church documents.  To prepare for Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours, since we are neophytes at chant, practice can last as much as 1-2 hours per day, often more for the cantress and sub-cantress whose office it is to prepare the music for Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.

After a very full schedule, we welcome the opportunity to go to Tehachapi twice a month to enjoy the expanse and silence.

Cottage Industries

Thanks to all who have supported our efforts at finding suitable cottage industries by buying our homemade products.  Our first effort at making and selling rosaries was followed by pressed flower cards, aprons, mounted icons, soap, lip balm, etc., sold at the 1999 Father's Day Sale Bar-B-Que at St. Michael's Abbey in Orange, California.  The response was a source of great encouragement.  A special note of appreciation to the mother of one of our Sisters who deftly and single-handedly managed the affair.

You can Assist Our Community:   The Norbertine Sisters' Fund

Thanks to all for the great confidence you have placed in us as expressed in your contributions to "The Norbertine Sisters' Fund" administered by our confreres at St. Michael's Abbey.  Your donations are being used to pay for the acquisition of the Tehachepi property and building renovation.   Donations made to "The Norbertine Association of St. Joseph" are used to pay for general living expenses.

Some of you have asked about making gifts of food.  As you know, we perepetually abstain from both meat and most fowl.   Fresh fruits and vegetables are always welcome, as are dried fruit (preferably unsulphured), legumes raw nuts, olive oil, and brown rice.  Sweets and desserts are not our customary practice.

As mentioned, we were overwhelmed by the gracious hospitality we received from our confreres and all our benefactors.  Our gratitude to our Father Abbot Eugene J. Hayes who preceded our travels.  Thank you to all the Abbots, Priors, Prioresses, and Administrators who responded and made this phase of our formation unforgettable.  We can only hope to make a return in some small way.

To all of you generous souls to whom we are indebted (some who are known to us, others who remain hidden), we know that we shall never be able to return your benificence, so we ask God, "the giver of every good gift" to reward you.  May God in turn will supply your needs fully, in a way worthy of his magnificent riches in Christ Jesus. (Phillipians, 4:19).

If you wish to help in our effort to establish this religious community, please contact us at:

The Norbertine Association of St. Joseph
c/o St. Michael's Abbey
19292 El Toro Road
Silverado, CA  92676-9710

Our new address in Tehachepi will be posted to this site in March or April of 2000.

In Conclusion

Lest we be Charmed by the "sound of human applause, so sweet to the ear, declaring 'well done, well done!'"[---13---] here is Mother Teresa of Calcutta's antidote to ego-inflation.  Mother Teresa remarked to Archabbot Lambert Reilly of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Meinrad's in Indiana: "Father we like your retreat.  So many priests come and say 'What can I tell you holy women?'  But you come and say 'Sisters, shape up!' and that is what we need to hear!"

We always need to hear exhortations, so that at the Lord's coming we may be found vigilant, always striving, never complacent.   May you please continue to "Come to my {our} aid with your prayers, that I {we} may have the strength to fight according to the law, and indeed {to fight the good fight} and to fight until the end and so finish the race.  We may not again see each other in this life, but we will have the happiness of seeing each other again in the world to come, when, standing at the throne of the spotless Lamb, we will together join in singing His praises and exult forever in the joy of our triumph {God willing}.   Amen"


NOTES:

[---1---]  <<BACK TO TEXT>>

Verbi Sponsa, Instruction on the Contemplative Life and on the Enclosure of Nuns, The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life, 1999 (Verbi Sponsa translates as "Bride of the Word")

[---2---]  <<BACK TO TEXT>>

The monastrance did not come into use until the early 1400s.  In the custom of his time, Norbert would actually have carried the Eucharist in the Ciborium or Pyx as was common for all Eucharistic processions, such as those used for Palm Sunday and the one to the altar of repose on Holy Thursday. 

[---3---]  <<BACK TO TEXT>>

Eucharistic Theology and Norbertine Life, Alfred McBride, O. Praem.

[---4---] <<BACK TO TEXT>>

The expression "Red Letter Day" comes from the use of red ink in liturgical books to denote a feast day. 

[---5---]  <<BACK TO TEXT>>

Verbi Sponsa

[---6---]  <<BACK TO TEXT>>

Verbi Sponsa

[---7---]  <<BACK TO TEXT>>

Psalm 68

[---8---]  <<BACK TO TEXT>>

Dr. Pius Parsch

[---9---]  <<BACK TO TEXT>>

Eucharistic Theology and Norbertine Life

[---9a---]  <<BACK TO TEXT>>

Eucharistic Theology and Norbertine Life

[---10---]  <<BACK TO TEXT>>

On-going Conversion in the Vow Formula, Rev. Ted Antry, O. Praem.

[---11---]  <<BACK TO TEXT>>

Father Abbot Killeen was Abbot of St. Norbert's Norbertine Abbey in DePere Wisconsin (1947-1970).  This quote was taken from Abbot Killeen's personal correspondence, October 2, 1984.  Father Abbot Parker referred to Father Abbot Killeen as a "cofounding abbot" of St. Michael's Abbey (personal correspondence, Father Abbot Parker, January 7, 1975)

[---12---]  <<BACK TO TEXT>>

Condensed excerpt from the History of St. Michael's Abbey, Orange, California, Rev. Gabriel Stack, O. Praem. (contained on this website, editors)

[---13---]  <<BACK TO TEXT>>

Vita Norberti B, translated by Fr. Ted Antry, O. Praem. (contained on this website, editors)

<<end>>

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From the "Catalogus Sacri Candidi et Canonici Ordinis Praemonstratensis, " 1995, Tongerlo, Reprinted by permission of the Definitory of the Order at the Generalate in Rome.