November Message

Dear Norbertine Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Tempus Fugit! It is November already! We have already celebrated liturgically all souls day, but throughout this month keep all such souls in your prayers.

On the 19th of November (which is this month’s meeting day for the lay order) we will have the same schedule as is posted on this site. However, after exposition (at 1:30 p.m.) we will have the profession ceremony for those who have completed all of the formation classes (two year’s worth) and have gone over their personal version of the rules with me. The number is 30! (A list of these members was sent out via email to avoid there being any confusion concerning who this involves.) If anyone has any questions or would like to be professed, feel free to contact me. I will have another ceremony later on this year for those who still need some classes or to have their rule approved.

We are close to the advent season, which is the shortest possible this year (basically only three weeks long since Christmas falls on a Monday). So this is a good year to pick more penitential acts to perform for the season, having the end even closer in sight! Seriously, recall that this is truly a time for offering, just as is lent. So start considering now various acts you can offer out of love for God, while also desiring to merit for others. Mortifying the senses and will are simple acts which can be applied to any way of life in many different ways.

We also have Thanksgiving day this month, right after the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Therefore, this is a good time to renew our acts of consecration to Her in a special way, giving thanks to God that we have such a loving Mother! No one cares more for us, desires us to be close to her Son and Lord, than does Mary. So be sure to thank both God and Mary!

At the 3:00 p.m. talk which we will have this month, we will be considering how the Norbertine Order has a key role in the historical development of the consecrated life. From this we will reflect how the penitential aspect of our way of life fits directly into the plan of salvation, benefitting both ourselves as well as souls throughout the entire world.

May God bless all of you,

Br Mark
charlesworth.mark@gmail.com

“Before all else, dear brothers, love God and then your neighbor, because these are the chief commandments given to us”

(Rule of St. Augustine)