Saint of the Day – 27 December – Blessed Roger of Verdun O. Praem.(Died 1138) Priest or Regular Canon, Friar , Abbot and Preacher of the Premonstratensian Order (the Norbertines), Born in the late 11th Century in Germany and died in 1138 of natural causes
Roger was born at the end of the 11th Century in Germany. He was a nobleman and belonged to the Court of Emperor Lothar III (1125-1137). A few years earlier, Saint Norbert of Xanten (c1080-1134) had left the Court of Emperor Henry V (1106-1125) to live a true apostolic life as a pauper Christi .
Roger was so moved by Norbert’s person and preaching that he gave up his secure position at Court and followed the itinerant preacher. He joined his Order, the Premonstratensians – O.Praem),which are also called the Norbertines, after their Founder, or White Canons, after the colour of the Order’s Habit. When Norbert was appointed Archbishop of Magdeburg in 1126, Roger returned to solitude in the Mother Monastery Prémontré at Laon in the region of Picardy in northern France.
In 1135, Bishop Alberon of Verdun decided to reform the Monastery of Saint-Paul which was inhabited by Benedictines and replace the Monks with the Regular Canons from Prémontré. Roger was assigned by Blessed Hugh of Fosse to lead a group of Monks at the Monastery where he served as the Abbot until his death Under his leadership, the Monastery experienced a considerable renown and increase in Monks, so much so, that under his successor there were 300 religious.
Roger died in 1138. He is honoured as blessed by the Premonstratensians with a memorial day today, 27 December.
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