Aside from the fact he was born in England in the year 1100, the early life of Robert of Newminster is shrouded in mystery. He studied in Paris, was ordained a priest, and returned to England where he became a Benedictine monk. With a group of other monks, Robert founded Fountains Abbey which followed the Cistercian reforms of St. Bernard of Clairvaux and still stands today. When he was around 38 years old, he and a group of other monks set out to found a new abbey in Newminster where he was abbot for 21 years. Robert recited all 150 Psalms daily, prayed devoutly, kept strict compliance with his vows of poverty, and his holiness allowed him to cast out demons and perform miracles.
CHALLENGE
Though St. Robert of Newminster lived a life of harsh self-denial, with others he was kind, gentle, and warm. He befriended a hermit named Godric, and St. Robert would visit Godric and the two would talk for hours about spiritual matters. It’s not uncommon for the elderly in our midst to live as virtual hermits. Today, make time to call or visit an elderly relative or neighbor.
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The end of life is a difficult time, and the Catholic Church has a rich history of teachings and traditions to help people have a holy death, as well as grieve and pray for those who have departed from this world. Passing Time is a rich resource on the topics of suffering, death, and Purgatory, compiled from a variety of classical Catholic texts. Buy your copy today.
