ST ROBERT OF NEWMINSTER, ABBOT

ST ROBERT OF NEWMINSTER, ABBOT - 7 JUNE

SAINT ROBERT OF NEWMINSTER, ABBOT

(Abbot of Newminster, in England, of the Cistercian Order.) Saint Robert was a native of Yorkshire, and even in his childhood an enemy to the usual amusements of that age, loving only prayer, serious reading, and useful and pious employments. Having finished his studies, he was ordained priest, and instituted to a rectorship of a parish in the diocese of York; but after discharging that office sometime with great assiduity and zeal, he resigned that living, and took the religious habit in the Benedictine monastery of our Lady in York.

THEY FOUNDED THE FAMOUS ABBEY

Richard, the prior of this house, and twelve others, desiring to serve God according to the primitive institute of the Benedictine Order, left the monastery, with leave of the abbot, and endeavouring to execute their project, struggled with incredible hardships; till Thurstan the pious archbishop of York, gave them a desert valley, called Scheldale, with the town of Sutton, where, in the midst of winter, and in extreme poverty, they founded the celebrated abbey which, from certain springs, was called Fountains, in 1132.

THE CISTERCIAN ORDER

The Cistercian Order, which had been lately introduced, into England, and settled at Rievalle, was perfectly agreeable to the fervent dispositions of this holy colony; and at their request the monastery of Fountains was received into it by St Bernard, who in his letters extols the perfection and sanctity of this new nursery of saints, which, from the beginning, was a model to the whole order for devotion, austerity in fasts, labour, by which all the monks procured their subsistence, fervour in all religious exercises, and cheerfulness in singing assiduously the divine praises.

NO MURMUR OR SADNESS

No murmur or sadness was known among them; nor any strife or contention ever heard of, unless of charity or humility: they never yielded to rest, till fatigued with labour; and always came hungry from their slender table, which was chiefly furnished with pulse and roots from their garden. St Robert seemed so far to eclipse the rest of this holy company by the lustre of his piety, that they all had their eyes on him in their religious duties, and studied to transcribe his fervour in their actions.

NEWMINSTER

Ranulph of Merley, baron of Morpeth, paying a visit to the monastery of Fountains, five years after its foundation, was so struck with the edifying deportment of the terrestrial angels who inhabited it, that he obtained of the abbot Richard, a certain number of these monks, and built for them a monastery called Newminster, near Morpeth, in Northumberland, in 1137, of which St Robert was appointed abbot.

The saint in his new dignity thought it his duty not only to walk before his brethren, but to go beyond them all in every religious observance; and all his virtues seemed to receive new vigour, and a new degree of perfection in this eminent station. His affection to holy prayer is not to be expressed. He recommended to God continually those committed to his care, and with many tears poured forth his soul for them night and day. He was favoured with the gift of prophecy and miracles.

THE MONASTERY AT RIVEBELLE

He founded another monastery at Pipinelle or Rivebelle in Northamptonshire, and lived in the strictest union of holy friendship with St Bernard; also with Saint Godric, a holy hermit in those parts, illiterate as to secular learning, but a most spiritual man. St Robert finished his course by a happy death June 7, 1159. Miracles attested his sanctity to the world. He is named in the Roman Martyrology.

From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Robert may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

BL. RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Newport, alias Smith , was born in Northamptonshire and performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Rheims (if he be the Richard Smith whom I find in the Douay diary sent to Rome in 1586) and partly in that of Rome, where he was made priest. From thence he was sent upon the English mission, and behaved himself in such a manner as justly to acquire the character of a laborious missionary; being withal remarkably successful in bringing home many strayed sheep to the fold of Christ, to which his apostolical way of living did not a little contribute. He was several times apprehended and cast into prison, and twice banished. His name occurs amongst those who were transported in 1606; at which time, we are told, he took that opportunity of making a pilgrimage to Rome, there to pour forth his prayers at the tombs of the apostles, in behalf of thi...

SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

Search This Blog