Aliança Norbertina

From January 23rd until 27th 2006 we were together with 36 young Brasilian norbertines and their responsibles in a new spiritual centre 8 km from the town of Montes Claros. Why in Montes Claros? The priory of Itinga is situated 1000 km north of it and the abbey of Jaú is situated more than 1000 km to the south: the Priory of Montes Claros is therefore about half way between the two other Brasilian houses.

The purpose of the meeting was to get acquainted with each other and to exchange the proper norbertine way of life and experience. Together with the Chilean community of Requinoa, the Brasilian houses are situated at the periphery of the norbertine world. Rarely someone of another continent pays a visit to us and periodicals from other houses remain inaccessible: some among us have started to study English, German or French. In other words: most of the juniors only know their own norbertine house whereas the existence of the Order remains an abstract notion. This has now changed because of our being together with the abbot-general and with the juniors of other houses.

The meeting with the general was particularly enthusiastic: he knew to conquer our hearts by his cordial intercourse as with his well-considered talks . He explained how important this kind of meeting is for a decentralised Order as ours. He talked about the structure of our Order and the importance of the coming General Chapter. It particularly struck us how he illustrated the common life: a considerable piece of spirituality for us, who so strongly are directed toward the exterior.

On the basis of a number of questions we met in discussion-groups concerning the talk, which the general had given before to the juniors of the Brabant circary. Only one discussion group handed in their report. In it we read a certain concern about on the one hand contemplation and communio and on the other hand the pastoral activities. There is talk of “paroquialização” meaning that priests are so occupied with their parish work that for living together and recollection there is but little time in their lives. They stay outside the house. Even juniors are continually enlisted in parochial activities. Thus life in community is threatened by activism.

Among ourselves we discussed the need of a professional formation in order to guarantee financial indipendence. Another of our cares is the phenomenon that many youths enter but that only few persevere. A lack of formed identity and perspective in our communities may possibly have something to do with it.

Besides liturgy, formation and exchange there was also time in Montes Claros for recreation and a cultural visit. The meeting offered an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with other houses , how they live, celebrate, exercise pastoral work, formation, guarantee their own upkeep and look at the future. Their foundation and history was shown to us by means of dvd’s. We shared the way of how to sing psalms, conduct services, hold an adoration, have the vocation pastoral at heart.

lt was nice to get acquainted with other premonstratensians from te same nation and the same language area The meeting strengthened our norbertine consciousness. Why wait six more years to organize the following meeting?