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Christmas Eve 1121 marked the founding of Premontre Abbey with the solemn profession of Saint Norbert and his 40 companions. Wanting to find a place where Norbert could carry out his project of reform, the Bishop of Leon, Barthelemy de Jur, led the Saint-founder to the southern part of the diocese where there was a small church dedicated to St. John the Baptist. After spending a night in prayer, Norbert told the bishop: My Lord and father. I want to stay here. I have identified the place that the Lord has destined for me. Here will be my abode and my rest.

This was the origin of the Order of Canons Regular of Premontre, whose rule was approved by Pope Honorius II in 1126. The Vatican postage stamp commemorating the anniversary reproduces an anonymous painting from 1656 found at the Prernonstratensian Abbey of Wilton (Innsbruck, Austria), which in turn was inspired by an engraving by Louis Barbaran, canon of Saint-Marlin de Laon (1690). It presents an overview of the Abbey of Premontre, showing the medieval layout of the abbey complex, which was later transformed into an elegant Baroque style in the 18th century. 
Reprinted from Vatican Notes, Vol 70, First Quarter 2022, page 4

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