Equipollent Canonization

The Founders Equipollent Canonization Cistercian Founders Day This morning we celebrated the Mass of the Founders: Robert, Alberic and Stephen. What does 'Founder' mean? When we dip into the Saints and the Hagiographies we come across this funny word, ‘Equipollent Canonization’. It is a very simple translation, ‘equivalent canonisation’. Saint Robert was the kind of popular, head hunted personality for communities, and with his Vita (Life) guaranteed his soon canonisation. Alberic and Stephen, the equivalent canonised Saints, are the ones who did ground work of the Cistercian Order. Robert had thirteen months as Abbot in Citeaux. Alberic was Abbot for 10 years and set firm base, Stephen Harding succeeded the next 20 years, and their lives had more or less had declined away before the surge of St. Bernard and his followers. The only sense of it all is really the movement of the Holy Spirit. + + + We are mindful of new FOUNDERS today, the building of the new community in Norway, Munkeby – Mariakloster. It is the first Foundation of Citeaux Abbey since the 15th century. It is the same Holy Spirit who leads us all in the offering of the Eucharistic celebration this morning.

Ref. The Canonization of Saints, by Mgr. P. E. Hallett.

An outline of the history and the processes of beatification and canonization.

Published by the Incorporated Catholic Truth Society, London, 1952.

www.ewtn.com

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--COMMENT--
--- Forwarded Message ----
From: William
Sent: Tue, January 26, 2010 6:44:24 PM
Subject: Striking words

Dear Father Donald,

Thank you for these striking words of Fr Brendan which have a deep resonance at this stage in my life....

Life is a call to move out of ourselves. As youth gives way to middle age we are challenged to detach from perceived ideals. As middle age gives way to old age we are forced to give up false ambition and pretenses. As old age progresses, we are made to detach from physical health itself, our body. The world we wanted to create is slowly taken from us and something unfamiliar and new replaces it. It slowly dawns on us that God is calling us and leading us on - no matter how dark it seems or how unfamiliar the road. The new self made in this image of Christ is replacing the old self. We leave ourselves to find ourselves again. Life is teaching us.
Let us put ourselves in the hands of the Lord of Life.

Thank you - from just one of the many who will be appreciating this article on your Blog.

With love in Our Lord,

William

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