Legends of the monastic orders as represented in the fine arts Volume 8080; Forming the second series of Sacred and legendary art

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1872 Excerpt: ...through the northern provinces of France, Hainault, Brabant, and Liege, he assembled around him those whose hearts had been touched by his eloquence, and who were resolved to adopt his austere discipline. Seeing the salvation of so many committed to his care, he humbly prayed for the Divine direction; and thereupon the blessed Virgin appeared to him in a vision, and pointed out to him a barren and lonesome spot in the valley of Coucy, thence pratum called Pre-montre. Hence the name adopted by his comBtratum. munity, ' the Premonstratensians.' The Virgin likewise dictated the fashion and colour of the habit they were to adopt; it was a coarse black tunic, and over it a white woollen cloak, in imitation of the angels of heaven, 'who are clothed in white garments.' The four-cornered cap or beret, worn by the Augustine canons, was also to be white instead of black. The rule was that of St. Augustine, but the discipline so severe that it was found necessary to modify it. Still, the necessity of monastic reform was so universally felt, that, even in the commencement, it found favour with the people. St. Norbert lived to count 1200 members of his community; was created Archbishop of Magdeburg by the Emperor Lothaire; and, after a most active and laborious ministry, died in 1134. In the German prints and pictures St. Norbert has the cope, mitre, and crosier, as archbishop, and carries the sacramental cup in his hand, over which is seen a spider, in allusion to the following story:--One day that Norbert had consecrated the bread and wine for the ceremony of the mass, on lifting the cup to his lips he perceived within it a large venomous spider. He hesitated--what should he do? To spill the sacred contents on the ground was profane--not to be thought of. To taste was...