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Chapter 2 of
"The Life of St. Norbert," 12th century
When the Ember Days approached, days set
aside by church custom for ordination to sacred orders, Norbert, still
a subdeacon, presented himself to Frederick, Archbishop of Cologne. He
requested that he be ordained a deacon and priest on the same day.
Since this was forbidden by canon law, the archbishop asked him the
reason for this sudden and unexpected desire. Norbert, after being
pressed for an answer, fell at the archbishop's feet and with tearful
groans expressed sorrow for his sins. Asking pardon, he protested to
the archbishop his firm and unbending decision to change his life. The
archbishop, after much deliberation and considering the outcome,
although it was altogether contrary to reason and customer to ordain
someone to diaconate and priesthood at the same time without knowing
the reasons, nevertheless, granted the dispensation and assented to his
request.
When the time for the ordination was at hand, Norbert, about to put on
the sacred vestments, changed his secular garb and clothed himself with
garments that seemed more suited to religious life. Then, putting on
the sacred vestments he was ordained first a deacon and then a priest
on the same day.
His desire fulfilled, Norbert returned to the Abbey of Siegburg and
there spent forty days in the service of God and the exercise of his
priestly duties. He then returned to the church at Xanten. Taking his
turn celebrating the sacred mysteries of the Mass, he preached a word
of exhortation to the people who were present. The following day in the
chapter hall, without holding back, he admonished his fellow canons
regarding salvation. Patiently and wisely he denounced, entreated and
reproached them. However due to his persistence, he became bothersome
to some. He endured their derision and many insults, among which, a man
of low station even spat in his face. After this insult he restrained
himself and kept quiet. He wiped his face and, remembering his sins,
preferred to give in to his tears before God rather than retaliate.
At a later date, worn out with fasting and vigils, Norbert celebrated
Mass in a crypt. After the Lord's Body and Blood had been consecrated,
a large spider fell into the chalice. When the priest saw it he was
shocked. Life and death hovered before his eyes. But lest the sacrifice
suffer any loss he chose rather to undergo the danger and consumed
whatever was in the chalice. When the service was finished, believing
he was going to die, he remained before the altar and commended his
awaited end to the Lord in prayer. Then he was disturbed by an itching
in his nose. He scratched it, and soon the spider was expelled by a
sudden fit of sneezing. Through this event both his faith in God and
God's goodness to him became evident.
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