On Monday, September 12, I will begin some vacation travel that will include celebrating and discovering Norbertine history in Spain. At the conclusion of my vacation, in the last week of September, I will participate in the meeting of the Norbertine Order Committee for the revision of our Order Constitutions in Bavaria, Germany. Specifically, we are meeting at Speinshart Abbey which is about 55 miles Northeast of Nuremberg and 140 miles North of Munich. You may remember that our committee has met twice before in Slovakia (2014) and near Philadelphia (2015). I think that this meeting will be our last before the International Norbertine Order Chapter meetings in 2018 in the Netherlands (last held at St. Norbert College, 2012).

While in Spain I will travel with Br. Terry Lauerman, O. Praem., who is fluent in Spanish and has become a student/expert in Norbertine history in Spain and Portugal. While there is a great abundance of Norbertine activity from the 13^th – 18^th century, the Order diminished considerably in Spain in the 19^th century due to various political, cultural, and religious conflicts. We will visit historical sites of Norbertine abbeys some of which are now abbeys of other religious communities, hotels, centers of study and culture, and even private homes.

My primary destination in Spain is one of the surviving communities of Norbertine sisters in Spain. Their convent is found in the city of Toro, Zamora, Spain. Toro is about 65 miles North of Salamanca and about 135 miles North-northwest of Madrid. Queen Maria de Molina gave the sisters a house in Toro in November 1316. The sisters have lived continuously in that location and have the distinction in the Order of having lived for the longest period of time in one house. While I am visiting, the sisters will celebrate their 700^th anniversary of living in that house. I expect a great time of prayer and fiesta.

You can visit their website here: http://www.premontresisters.com/ and go to the link for “Norbertine Sisters in the World” and click on “Toro” on the map. According to Wikipedia, “Toro is a town and municipality in the province of Zamora, part of the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It is located on a fertile high plain, northwest of Madrid.” It is reported that Toro is famous for its wine. I will have to investigate!

I will return to Green Bay on October 1. Some of you may see me on Sunday, October 2.

Peace, Fr. Andy