Our Saints

Our Premonstratensian Order is also a religious society. It was founded by a saint, and among the "fathers" of our order is St. Augustine. Many brothers and sisters in it have achieved and continue to achieve the sanctification of their lives, and some have reached official canonization. What is the situation with our saints and blesseds? Do we have many or few? Do we need more?

Our order was very numerous in the past; today, it is not, but compared to other societies, we have many saints. This is an honor and a commitment for us. The Premonstratensians have always been reserved in seeking canonization and beatification of their brothers and sisters, not wanting the liturgical celebration of saints to overshadow the celebration of the main mysteries of faith.

In 1582, Norbert was recognized as a saint, and in 1614, Gotfríd was beatified. In 1657, the office and mass of St. Gilbert were introduced, in 1675 St. Gerlac, St. Siard, Bl. Bedřich, Bl. Heřman-Joseph, and Bl. Gertruda, and in the same year, the beatification process for Adrian and Jacob was completed. Finally, in 1728, the office and mass of St. Evermod, St. Isfrid, and St. Ludolf were introduced, and in the same year, Pope Benedict XIII, at the request of his friend, the order's general procurator Norbert Mattense, approved and sanctioned, i.e., remedied legal deficiencies in everything the order had arranged so far regarding the liturgical veneration of its saints.

This was followed by the beatification of Bronislava in 1839, Hroznata in 1897, Hugo in 1927, and the canonization of Heřman-Joseph in 1958. Since 1962, following a revision approved by Rome, Gotfríd and Bedřich are listed as saints, and Gerlac was (perhaps unnecessarily) excluded due to disputed affiliation with our order. In 1998, Jakub Kern, a priest of the Austrian monastery Geras, was beatified. Currently, preparations are underway to start the canonization process for Bl. Hroznata, the patron of the Pilsen diocese.

Blessed Hugo

February 10th

Hugo was born probably in 1093 in Fosses in present-day Belgium. Very little is known about his childhood. He joined the canonry at Fosses and eventually found his calling and path in the service of Burchard, the bishop of Cambrai. Hugo was present when Burchard met Norbert in Valenciennes in 1119. The bishop was studying with Hugo when the porter announced that a beggar insisted on seeing the bishop. Burchard instructed the porter to bring the man in. When the wandering beggar Norbert entered, Burchard stared at him in undisguised astonishment. This moment was a turning point in Hugo's life. He could only speculate about the transformation in Norbert's life from his bishop's astonishment, and he urged Burchard to tell him more details. Listening to Norbert's story, Hugo felt called to become his disciple.

A few days later in Valenciennes, Norbert fell ill, and Burchard assigned Hugo to care for him until he recovered. During Norbert's convalescence, he often spoke to Hugo about divine matters. He particularly taught him about the virtues of humility, simplicity, obedience, chastity, and poverty. An old biography of Norbert recounts: "Norbert, who was advanced in divine things, repeated these and similar instructions to Hugo several times a day and continuously encouraged him."

Hugo became the first steadfast follower in Norbert's work and community. In 1121, with the help of others, they began the first foundation of the Premonstratensian Order in Prémontré in northern France. At the beginning of the foundation's activities, Norbert appointed Hugo as prior of Prémontré. In 1128, he named him abbot, his successor in Prémontré, and the first abbot of the mother abbey. Out of humility, Hugo never added "abbot" to his name but "servant of God and Norbert's." He dedicated himself to building a strong community life in Prémontré, which became a model for other houses of the order. He convened the general chapter annually in Prémontré and also directed the preparation of the first arrangement of the order's customs and liturgical actions.

Hugo died in 1164, after being abbot in Prémontré for 36 years. He is depicted in the habit of an abbot holding the rule book that governed the monastery in Prémontré in the early days of its life.

Saint Evermod

February 17th

Evermod was born in Belgium around the beginning of the twelfth century. Little is known about his youth. When Evermod was about twenty years old, St. Norbert came to preach in Cambrai at the invitation of Bishop Burchard. Evermod happened to hear Norbert speak, and immediately decided to join him. Norbert took him back to the newly founded community in Prémontré, where Evermod became one of his first followers. From that day, the zealous Evermod accompanied Norbert on all his travels, soon becoming the best friend and beloved follower of the wandering preacher. Evermod stood by Norbert's side in all the key moments of his life, whether as a founder or as an archbishop. On June 6, 1134, he was with Norbert when he gave his final blessing and died. Evermod was deeply saddened by Norbert's death. In the following years, he held several leadership positions. From 1134 to 1138, he was the head of the Gottesgnaden Abbey in Saxony, and from 1138 to 1154, he was the provost at St. Mary's in Magdeburg.

In 1154, Evermod was appointed the first bishop of the newly established diocese in Ratzeburg. The cathedral chapter of thirteen Premonstratensians surrounded Evermod with a community life that he lovingly cared for. As a bishop, he was known primarily for his apostolic zeal in converting the northern pagans – the Lusatian Serbs. He is often mentioned as the "Apostle of the Lusatian Serbs," and was successful in both their Christianization and civilization, where many of his predecessors had failed. Evermod was also renowned for his sense of justice. When the influential Count Henry of Ratzeburg continued to mistreat some prisoners despite Evermod's request to treat them fairly, Evermod responded with a miracle. It was customary for prisoners to be let into the cathedral for the Easter Mass. Evermod sprinkled their shackles with newly blessed Easter water, and the shackles broke, freeing the prisoners. Evermod died as the Bishop of Ratzeburg on February 17, 1178. He is depicted with the insignia of a bishop, wiping away tears of grief over the death of his beloved friend St. Norbert.

Saint Ludolf

April 26th

Ludolf joined the Premonstratensian chapter in Ratzeburg, where he served as treasurer before being elected Bishop of Ratzeburg in 1236. Nothing is known about his life in the preceding years. He was renowned for his exemplary monastic life and powerful preaching of the Word of God. He was the one who founded the community of Premonstratensian sisters near Rehna. However, Ludolf is most remembered for his fearlessness in defending the rights and property of the church against the greedy Duke Albert of Saxony. One of the duke's plans was to demolish the church complex near his castle and turn it into a garden. Ludolf staunchly opposed this plan. During a service trip, accompanied only by a small guard, he was captured by Duke Albert's men, bound, spat upon, and treated very harshly. His hands and feet were tied, and he was left in a remote forest near a swamp, exposed to merciless swarms of mosquitoes. He was then thrown into prison but eventually released. Ludolf endured all suffering with patient determination. Fearing a return to Ratzeburg, which Duke Albert had seized, he found refuge with Prince John of Mecklenburg and Wismar. During this exile, Ludolf, emaciated and weakened due to imprisonment and advanced age, fell seriously ill. He celebrated his last Mass on Maundy Thursday. His last words were: "O great and good God, allow me, your unprofitable servant, to belong to you for all eternity."

He died on March 29, 1250. His body was returned to Ratzeburg for burial, and as the procession passed through Schlagsdorf, it is said that the bells in the town rang of their own accord. At the duke's command, the body was carried over the bridge into the Ratzeburg cathedral by the nobility. Ludolf's brothers then carried him into the cathedral, the place of his final rest. Ludolf is celebrated as a bishop and martyr for the rights and freedom of the church. He is portrayed with the insignia of a bishop, carrying the chains with which he was bound in prison, and holding the palm of martyrdom.

Saint Herman Joseph

May 24th

Herman Joseph was born in Cologne on the Rhine sometime after 1150. He was devoted to the Mother of God from his earliest youth and was graced with mystical favor from childhood. According to his medieval biographer, he offered an apple at the Marian altar in Cologne, and the statue of the Virgin Mary with the infant Christ came to life to accept this humble gift. Herman Joseph entered the Premonstratensian monastery in Steinfeld in the Eifel region at the age of twelve, persevered, and became one of the most famous mystics of the Rhineland in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. He was sent to Frisia for priestly studies. As a canon and priest of the Steinfeld monastery, he earned respect for his spiritual guidance and preaching gifts, especially among women's religious communities in the Rhineland. His complete devotion to Mary, the mother of Christ, led to the addition of the name of Mary's husband – Joseph – to his name. One day, while working in the refectory and feeling that he had too little time for prayer, Mary appeared to him and comforted him with the words: "You have no higher duty than to serve your brothers with love."

Later, as sacristan of the monastery church, Herman Joseph found ample time for the contemplative prayer he loved so much. The culmination of all the mystical graces Herman Joseph experienced was his mystical marriage to the Blessed Virgin. He called her his rose in one of the most beautiful Marian poems of the Middle Ages and dedicated himself to her care. His dedication to the Mother brought him very close to her Son. He also wrote one of the first and most remarkable hymns in honor of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. During the last Lent of his life, the Cistercian sisters of Hoven asked the abbot to send Herman Joseph to celebrate a special Mass for them. Herman Joseph, already elderly and weak, insisted on walking there. Throughout his life, he always refused to ride a horse or carriage. Upon arriving at the monastery, he pointed with his staff to a spot on the cemetery and told the sisters, "Bury me here." A few weeks later, he died in Hoven, either in 1241 or 1252. He is portrayed in priestly attire, holding the infant Christ and the apple he offered, with white roses symbolizing his consecration to Mary, the "Mystical Rose."

Saint Norbert

June 6th

Saint Norbert of Xanten, the founder of the Premonstratensian Order, was born around 1080 to 1085 in Xanten, 100 km north of Cologne. His father, Herbert, was the lord of Gennep Castle, and his mother, Hedwig, likely belonged to the family of the dukes of Lorraine. As a younger son, Norbert was dedicated to the Lord according to the custom of the time and became a canon of the Xanten chapter. Although his duty was to sing praises to God in the choir of canons, he did not give up his secular life. Later, due to his abilities, he joined the court of Archbishop Frederick of Cologne and subsequently Emperor Henry V's court. Norbert accompanied the emperor to Rome, where Henry was crowned by Pope Paschal II in 1111. The emperor's violent actions against the pope over the investiture controversy deeply affected Norbert and contributed to his conversion. In the summer of 1115, Norbert, riding on horseback during a storm, was struck by lightning. This experience transformed him into a humble penitent, changing his life completely.

This decision by Norbert was final. Previously a subdeacon, he was ordained a priest by the Archbishop of Cologne and began his journey as a zealous preacher. In 1118, he distributed his wealth and went to St-Gilles in southern France, where Pope Gelasius II resided. From him, Norbert received official permission to act as a wandering preacher. Excessive exertion associated with his apostolic work caused him to fall seriously ill, forcing him to pause his missionary activities. After recovery in 1120, he and a few disciples, including his best friend Hugo of Cambrai-Fosses, retreated to a secluded spot near Laon, northwest of Reims. The small place of Prémontré, where the men settled, was to become the birthplace of the Premonstratensian Order.

Norbert, the founder of the order whose members are also known as Norbertines in some countries, gave his small community the Rule of St. Augustine; thus, a reformist order of Augustinian canons was established. The Premonstratensians, clothed in white religious garb, sought with utmost seriousness and the strictest spirit of penance to renew the original monastic ideal. By sanctifying themselves, they aimed to sanctify their surroundings. Their reputation as "holy religious brothers" spread quickly, and more like-minded individuals flocked to Prémontré, hidden in dense forests, to join Norbert. The place, shaped like a cross as if created for prayer, saw a rapid increase in followers. Some accompanied Norbert in his preaching, while others stayed in Prémontré or went to newly founded houses. Communities of sisters emerged near the monasteries to assist in apostolate and charitable work. Even laypeople were accepted, for whom a third order was established, a first in church history, pioneered by the Premonstratensians. Six years after founding the order, in 1126, Norbert was appointed Archbishop of Magdeburg by Pope Honorius II. His reform efforts garnered admiration on one hand and provoked violent opposition from critics on the other. In 1128, Norbert handed over the leadership of his order to his friend Hugo. After a laborious life, this extraordinary man of the Church died on June 6, 1134, in Magdeburg. He was buried in the local monastic church. In 1627, his remains were transferred to the Premonstratensian monastery at Strahov in Prague. A famous quote from the order's founder, recognized as a saint by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, goes: "I have been at court, lived in a monastery, held high ecclesiastical offices, and everywhere I learned that there is nothing better than to surrender oneself entirely to God."

Saint Norbert is often depicted in Premonstratensian monastic garb or archbishop's robes, holding a chalice or monstrance, and sometimes at his feet lies the heretic Tanchelm, who denied Christ's presence in the Eucharist. Since his transfer to Prague in 1627, the saint has been one of the patrons of the Czech lands.

Saint Isfrid

June 16th

Little is known about the early years of Isfrid's life. In 1159, he was elected prior of the Jerichow Monastery in the Magdeburg archdiocese. In 1180, he became the first successor of St. Evermod as Bishop of Ratzeburg. A medieval chronicler describes him as a "sanctus sancti successor" (holy successor of a holy man). He was known for his organizational skills and worked tirelessly for the German colonization of the Lusatian-Serbian land. Isfrid was the confessor and friend of Duke Henry of Saxony. Henry was a devoted layman who enthusiastically supported Isfrid's project of continuing the evangelization of the Lusatian Serbs started by Evermod. However, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa unjustly deprived Duke Henry of his property, giving it to Bernard of Anhalt. Bernard persecuted all who disagreed with the emperor's policy against the pope or sympathized with Duke Henry. Isfrid endured persecution with dignity and patience until Henry was reconciled with the emperor and regained the duchy. In the old annals of Stederburg, Isfrid is called "a man distinguished by Christian wisdom, humility, and courage."

In 1195, when the canons of the Schwerin chapter, composed of Saxons and Lusatian Serbs, could not agree on the election of a bishop, the Pope asked Isfrid to decide, and the choice fell on Brunward, the first Lusatian Serb to be consecrated a bishop.

Isfrid was a man of great penance. Once on Good Friday, fasting on bread and water, the water he drew from the usual source was miraculously turned into wine. Isfrid looked up to heaven and said, "When you will, O miraculous Creator, to transform the things you have created, I submit to your commands. Behold, on the day of your Son's crucifixion, I accept what you give."

Many miracles are associated with Isfrid's life. One day, as he and his canons were processing around the church, a blind man approached Isfrid and asked to be healed. Isfrid had pity on him and said the words of Psalm 145(146), "The Lord opens the eyes of the blind." With these words, the man's sight was restored. Isfrid died on July 15, 1204, and was buried in Ratzeburg Cathedral. He is depicted with the insignia of a bishop, holding a cup of water turned into wine and with the blind man he healed.

Saints Adrian and James

July 9th

Adrian Jansen and James LaCoupe were both Premonstratensian canons from the monastery in Middleburg, Holland. Adrian was born in 1529 in Hilvarenbeck (hence the Latin surname "Becan" sometimes used to distinguish him from other Jansens). At Easter in 1572, he was appointed pastor in Munster, a village by the North Sea. Here, as in other parish assignments, he was known for his pastoral zeal. Tension between him and the Calvinists in Munster was evident, but Adrian was undeterred. He publicly wore his white habit, preached, and proclaimed the Good News. His assistant pastor in Munster at that time was the young Father James (Jacob) LaCoupe. Jacob was born in Audenarde, Belgium, in 1542, and took his solemn vows in 1561 at the Middleburg Abbey. He was very popular among the brothers in the abbey for his friendly and open nature. However, led astray by the writings of Protestant reformers, Jacob left the abbey to understand the main ideas of the Reformation. He went so far as to write biting treatises against the Catholic Church. Largely due to the pleas and prayers of his father, Jacob was eventually readmitted to the Catholic Church and the order. He was called to the Marienhof Abbey, where he underwent a long period of penance and began writing treatises defending the Catholic faith. In 1567, he was appointed assistant priest in Munster.

Adrian and Jacob found themselves alone in Munster during the height of Protestant hatred. In the summer of 1572, a group of monks was attacked by Calvinist robbers near the villages of Dordercht and Gorcum, and there was little hope for their release. The parish priests of Munster were warned not to leave the parish. In July, someone urgently called for help at the door of the parish. Adrian naively thought it might be to administer the last rites to a dying person, opened the door bolt, and both he and Jacob were attacked. They were taken to prison in Brielle, where they joined nineteen other priests and monks awaiting their fate. After repeated offers to renounce their Catholic faith, the priests and monks were eventually taken to an abandoned monastery near Gorcum. Two monks renounced their faith and were spared. The others, including Adrian and Jacob, were hanged on a beam, killed, and horribly mutilated. Adrian and Jacob are depicted with a noose around their necks and a palm of martyrdom in hand. Adrian holds a papal crown and keys symbolizing his defense of the Roman pope. Jacob holds a chalice symbolizing the defense of the intent of the Eucharist.

Blessed Hroznata

July 14th

Hroznata was born to noble parents in Bohemia around 1170. His mother dedicated him to the care of the Blessed Virgin Mary at his birth. Although the newborn was expected to be dead, his mother's trust in the Virgin Mary's intercession gave the child life and health. As a young boy, he narrowly escaped death twice, once when he was run over by the heavy wheels of a carriage and again when he fell into a river. However, Hroznata grew into an exceptional young man and married a young lady from a noble family. After the sudden death of his wife and child, he was left alone and forlorn. Turning his gaze to spiritual life, he decided to dedicate his earthly possessions to the Church. In 1193, he donated his lands and wealth to the Premonstratensian Order for the founding of Teplá Monastery.

He vowed to join the 1197 crusade and traveled with the crusaders to the Holy Land. Several insurmountable obstacles, especially at sea, forced him to abandon the crusade. Returning home via Rome, he was released from his vow by Pope Celestine III, who encouraged him to instead establish a community of Premonstratensian sisters in Chotěšov. Meanwhile, Hroznata himself felt a growing determination to join the order. He eventually received the desired blessing from the Pope and was given the white habit of the order by Pope Innocent III in 1202. Back home, he faced many trials. Upon returning to Teplá (as a lay brother), he was appointed administrator of the extensive monastic estates and became entangled in various complex property rights disputes. Empowered by the abbot, Hroznata vigorously fought against the greedy nobility trying to take control of his inheritance in Teplá. He courageously and forcefully opposed these people, making many enemies.

Once, while traveling from Teplá to Lichtštát, Hroznata was ambushed by a group of hostile knights and imprisoned at Kinsberg Castle. There, he suffered a slow and agonizing death from starvation. He died on July 14, 1217. His veneration as a martyr was officially confirmed by the Holy See in 1897. Hroznata is depicted with a noble crown, which he renounced for the Kingdom of Christ, and with a palm of martyrdom, holding a church representing his founding of Teplá Monastery.

Blessed Gertrude

August 13th

Gertrude was born on September 29, 1227, as the youngest of three children of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Before her birth, her parents dedicated her to God's service. When Gertrude was about a year old, they entrusted her to the Premonstratensian sisters to fulfill this vow. Possibly, her saintly mother anticipated her impending death and knew that the sisters would be good mothers to her orphaned child. When Elizabeth died in 1231 in Marburg, it was said that she appeared in Gertrude's room in Altenberg, radiant and smiling. When Gertrude reached the appropriate age, she entered the community for life. Her talent and virtues were so extraordinary that she was elected as the abbess of the monastery at the age of twenty-one. Under her leadership, many noblewomen left their secular lives to join the flourishing community in Altenberg. Gertrude had a monastic church built in honor of the Blessed Virgin and St. Michael. She also oversaw the construction of a hospital and a guest house adjacent to the monastery and found true pleasure in serving the poor and performing domestic duties in the monastery. It is said that once, while she was washing a curtain, sunbeams held it up until it dried, showing heaven's approval of her piety in the humblest of tasks.

Gertrude had a special talent for reconciling enemies and was known for her strict penances. During Lent, she slept on straw and on the bare floor during Holy Week. She was also said to have the gift of prophecy. When Pope Urban IV called for a new crusade, Gertrude and her sisters received his permission to wear the crusader's cross and join the crusade through prayers and penance. When this pope instituted the Feast of Corpus Christi, Gertrude was among the first and most fervent supporters of this festival, which originated in 1270 and was celebrated in Altenberg with the utmost reverence. Gertrude served as abbess in Altenberg for 49 years and died at the age of seventy on August 13, 1297. She is portrayed with a noble crown, a cross on her chest, and a monstrance, symbolizing her devotion to the Feast of Corpus Christi.

Blessed Bronislava

August 30th

Bronislava was born around 1200 in Kamień, present-day Poland. As a young girl, she wished to become a nun, but her father stubbornly prevented her. She was disheartened until the Lord Himself appeared to her with a reassuring promise: "Patience, Bronislava, you shall become my bride." Eventually, she was allowed to enter the community of Premonstratensian sisters in Krakow around 1219.

Bronislava immediately faced the reality of the cross, missing her mother and realizing how hard it was to live in a community of women of different characters, adapting slowly to the strictness of the convent. However, Bronislava viewed everything through the lens of the cross and soon was penetrated by its mystery. She identified with the cross so closely that one day in the hills near the monastery, the crucified Christ appeared to her and said, "Bronislava, as my cross was your cross, so my crown will be your crown."

In early Lent of 1241, as Bronislava and some of her sisters were praying with arms extended in the form of a cross, they received news that the wild Tatars were rapidly advancing on Krakow. The monastery was in imminent danger of destruction. Bronislava lifted the cross, pressed it to her heart, and told her sisters, "Fear nothing, the cross will protect us." She then led the sisters into underground tunnels beneath the monastery, where they remained hidden from the invaders. The monastery buildings were not spared and collapsed in flames, burying the sisters underground. It is said that when Bronislava tapped the rocky walls of their involuntary dark prison three times with her cross, a passage suddenly opened for the sisters to escape to freedom. After the destruction of the monastery, most sisters found refuge in a nearby monastery that was spared. However, Bronislava remained in the ruins of the old monastery, and with a handful of remaining sisters, built huts to sleep in and spent their days serving the poor, the sick, and countless victims of the Tatar raids. This was the last sign of flourishing in a spirituality focused on the cross, which she herself grew through solidarity with the suffering of others. The monastery was never rebuilt during Bronislava's lifetime. She eventually succumbed to a serious illness while visiting the sick and died on August 29, 1259. She is the patron saint of Krakow, whose cardinal-archbishop became Pope John Paul II in 1978. Bronislava is depicted with a crown of virginity, holding the cross, which was the center of the fulfillment of her life and spirituality.

Blessed Peter Adrian Toulorge

October 13th

Pierre-Adrien Toulorge was born on May 4, 1757, in Muneville-le-Bingard, in the area known as La Quièze, as the youngest of three children in a farming family. He was baptized on the same day he was born, but his mother passed away four days later. Pierre felt a calling to the priesthood in his childhood, initially studying at a high school and then in the seminary of Coutances. He was ordained a priest in 1782.

He became the vicar in Doville, a very poor parish under the patronage of the Premonstratensian Abbey of Blanchelande. During a visit to this community, the young priest was inspired by the life of the Premonstratensians and requested to join the order. He completed his novitiate at Beauport and returned in 1788 as a canon at Blanchelande. However, just two years later, during the tumultuous times of the French Revolution, a law suppressing religious orders was passed. After expressing his desire to continue communal life on June 10, 1790, Toulorge was forced to leave the abbey but stayed in the vicinity. When a law of August 26, 1792, required all clergy in public functions to swear loyalty to the civil constitution, he mistakenly thought he was among the hundreds of monks of the Coutances diocese who were forced to take refuge on the English island of Jersey and left France for exile. Realizing this misunderstanding, he returned to his homeland, living in secrecy and occasionally celebrating the Eucharist in his former abbey's territory. Political tensions gradually escalated, increasingly affecting the church and its servants, turning into outright persecution. In this historical context, known as "The Terror," Pierre-Adrien, who had recently been living in various hideouts, was reported to the authorities, leading to his arrest on September 3, 1793. At the time of his arrest, he had with him a bag containing handwritten mass prayers in honor of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, his white Premonstratensian habit, and other items. In the following days, the administrative authorities of Carentan interrogated and accused him of being a "refractory" priest, secretive, and an emigrant. Initially, Toulorge resisted the accusations. Realizing that denial could save his life but at the cost of lying and discrediting the dignity of the priesthood, he eventually opened himself to grace, overcame his fear, and admitted the accusations. The court, without any mitigating circumstances, sentenced him to death by guillotine. In prison, he testified to deep peace and comforted other convicts.

He spent his last night writing three letters to his brother and two friends, expressing his awareness that he would be killed out of hatred for the Catholic faith and the church and that he was prepared, albeit unworthy, to accept the grace of martyrdom. Before being taken to the execution site, he reassured his fellow prisoners that he would intercede and pray for all, even for his persecutors, and then blessed them. With a composed face, a sign of firm faith and indomitable hope, he went to the guillotine, erected in the town square of Coutances, amidst a silent and moved crowd, as they saw this young priest face death with great serenity in his heart. Pierre-Adrien Toulorge was beheaded on October 13, 1793. His last words were heard by a witness, a ten-year-old boy, who later reported what he said before dying: "My God, into your hands I commend my spirit! I beg you for the restoration and preservation of the Holy Church. Please forgive my enemies." His body was buried in the cemetery of Saint Peter in Coutances. He was immediately venerated as a martyr of Truth.

Blessed Jakob Kern

October 20th

Jakob Kern's life intertwines with the complex destinies of European history in the first half of the 20th century. Born on April 11, 1897, in Vienna as Franz Alexander, the bright and ordinary "boy from Breitenseerstrasse" felt an early calling to the priesthood. He began his formation at the archbishop's seminary in Hollabrunn, where he was an average student with many academic difficulties. A year before World War I broke out, he joined the Third Order of St. Francis. At eighteen, Franz was drafted into the military in October 1915, attending the one-year volunteer officer school in Vöcklabruck. He soon found himself on the Italian front, where he faithfully served his country and emperor, suffering serious injuries on September 11, 1916. Allowed to go on medical leave in the spring of 1917 after a harrowing journey through military hospitals, his unfitness for military service enabled him to return to Vienna and begin theological studies at the local seminary. He considered his suffering part of the maturation process: "I suffered. I feel very happy, like after a good deed, and I believe that now I may enter the holy hall of priesthood at least somewhat purified."

The end of the war and the collapse of the monarchy brought about a profound change in Franz Kern, leading to a decision to offer himself and his vocation as a sacrificial offering for another: he wanted to take the place of Dr. Isidor Zahradník, who left the Strahov Monastery to join the newly formed Czechoslovak Hussite Church. This decision to become a Premonstratensian eventually brought Franz to the Geras Monastery near the Czech border, where he took the religious name Jakob on October 18, 1920. Despite his frail health, he was known as a cheerful and kind brother. After taking his three-year vows and renouncing the remainder of his property on October 20, 1921, he wrote to a friend, "Look, now nothing belongs to me, and you wouldn't believe how happy I am." A year later, he was ordained a priest with a dispensation. On the night before his first Mass, he suffered a hemorrhage. "There is no perfect joy on earth, even if it is the purest and holiest. My first Mass seems to me like Palm Sunday. First, the celebration. Then comes Holy Week." He spent the remaining two years of his life in great pain and suffering. Due to his weakened condition, he underwent surgery without anesthesia, enduring it consciously and even apologizing to the doctor for the difficult work. Before receiving the Viaticum, he said, "The first and last Holy Communion should be made especially solemn. Today will be my last Holy Communion. I will make my eternal vows in heaven." Jakob Kern died on October 22, 1924, with a reputation for holiness. The beatification process began in Vienna in 1956 and was successfully concluded in Rome in July 1997. During Easter 1998, the remains of the blessed were transferred to the Jakob Kern Chapel in front of the basilica in Geras.

Saint Gilbert

October 26th

Gilbert was born into a French noble family in Courtenai towards the end of the 11th century. He was trained as a knight at the court of King Louis the Fat and Louis the Younger. There, his talents as a pious gentleman, skilled diplomat, and fierce warrior developed. Eventually, he settled on his family estates in Auvergne with his wife Petronilla and daughter Poncia. Gilbert's home was near the Premonstratensian Abbey of Dilo, whose abbot, Ornulph, became his spiritual shepherd and teacher. Around 1146, Gilbert was personally invited by St. Bernard of Clairvaux to join the Crusade. Abbot Ornulph encouraged Gilbert to respond to the call. Thus, Gilbert entered the army of the French King Louis and the German Emperor Conrad, traveling through Hungary and Constantinople to the Holy Land.

Gilbert quickly realized that the greatest enemy of the Christian army was not the pagans but the lack of discipline and true faith among the Crusaders themselves. Twice this enormous army was led into traps by its own soldiers who were bribed by pagans. In fact, the army was so demoralized that the king and emperor sought new, uncorrupted officers. Gilbert was chosen as one of the main commanders, and with his military valor and spiritual insight, he helped lead the army to one of its crushing victories on the way from Ephesus to Jerusalem.

After two years, Gilbert returned home, so full of sadness and disgust at the spiritual state of the world he had seen abroad that he decided to embrace monastic life. On the advice of Abbot Ornulph and with the consent of his wife and daughter, Gilbert went to the wilderness in Neuf-Fontaines. He built a hospital for the poor there and eventually, with Abbot Ornulph's help, founded the Neuf-Fontaines Abbey. Abbot Hugh of Premontré later appointed Gilbert the first abbot of Neuf-Fontaines. Simultaneously, Petronilla and Poncia founded a Premonstratensian sisters' monastery in Auberterre, with Petronilla as its first superior, succeeded by Poncia after her death. Abbot Gilbert spent the rest of his days caring for the poor and sick with great love. It is said that when his tears fell on wounds, they were immediately healed. Mothers brought their ailing and disabled children to Gilbert, who blessed them and read the Gospel (Mt 19:14): "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." From those days, Gilbert is invoked in the care of sick children. Gilbert died on June 6, 1152, and was buried in the poor's cemetery as per his wish. He is depicted trampling a shield and sword, symbols of war, and carrying a raised crusader flag to illustrate how Gilbert transferred the spirit of the Crusades into service to his heavenly King.

Saint Siard

November 14th

Siard was born into a respected family in Frisia around the mid-12th century. As a young boy, he attended the renowned school at the Premonstratensian Abbey of Mariengaarden. Siard showed his commitment early on and eventually expressed his desire to join the community. He was accepted into the order by Saint Frederick, the first abbot of Mariengaarden. When Abbot John, Frederick's third successor, was near death, he decreed on June 20, 1194, that Siard would be his successor. Thus, Siard became the fifth abbot of Mariengaarden. His biographer notes, "As the mantle of Elijah fell on Elisha, so the mantle of Saint Frederick fell on Siard."

As abbot, Siard rejected some provisions for distinguishing attire, insisting on equality among his brothers. He was known for his austere lifestyle. His room was bare, and he often slept on the floor. Siard was renowned as a friend and advocate for the poor. He noticed that in other abbeys, the poor were pushed aside while rich and select guests were welcomed with open arms. Siard did not tolerate this. He liked to distribute bread to the poor himself and even took supplies on his journeys to distribute among the needy. Siard often joined his brothers in manual labor, especially during harvest and in building dikes against the constant threat of the North Sea.

Once, while traveling with his fellow brothers, they passed a noisy celebration with music and dancing. Siard stopped and turned to his brothers, commenting, "Just imagine what joyful songs the angelic choir must sing when they celebrate the conversion of a single sinner." On another journey, he encountered an old friend who had gone blind. When the afflicted friend recognized him, Siard was so moved with compassion that he prayed for his healing, and the man's eyesight was restored on the spot. Siard's strict regimen, however, was not popular among his brothers. In 1230, one canon attempted to assassinate Abbot Siard with a knife as he was falling asleep. The abbot's cries affected the brothers so profoundly that he was only slightly injured, and his life was spared. Later that year, on November 17, Abbot Siard passed away. He is depicted in abbot's attire with bread for the poor, a shovel symbolizing his manual labor, and wheat that he harvested in the sweat of his brow.