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During the first week of August 2009, Norbertine Sisters representing Norbertine Houses from around the world (Toro, Zwierzyniec, Imbramowice, Oosterhout, Doksany, the Czech and Slovak Congregation, Zsambek, Mariengaard and Tehachapi) met at Mariengaard/De Essenburgh in the Netherlands, under the maxim "Cor Unum Anima Una"(One Heart and One Sole) to discuss and begin an international "communio".
On August 5th, the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows (Sancta Maria ad Nives), the Sisters decided on and officially established the "Communio Internationalis Sororum Praemonstratensium" (CISP), a spiritual union for the deepening of communio among Norbertine Sisters under the patronage of Our Lady of the Snows. As CISP, respecting a juridical diversity, they hope to charitably encourage and support one another spiritually, as well as in concrete ways, through the sharing of information and experiences of mutual concern and esteem, and to discover even more the female Norbertine religious identity through the study of the patrimony, particularly the holy women of the Order.
"The one common charism, embraced by those, who have lived according to the Rule of St. Augustine, following the Praemonstratensian Spirituality for 900 years , has been implanted the enculturated in many parts of the world to this day . This Norbertine canonical life continues to flourish and be a source of vitality in the church. It draws its inspiration from the apostolic life to have one heart and soul and live a common life. The Norbertine habit has represented through the centuries the angels of the resurrection, as Praemonstratensian have brought the Gospel of Christ’s triumph over sin and death to many places reconciling sinners to God, bringing peace and forgiveness to those divided by enmity, preaching the Good news to the poor. Filial devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, prayer-especially the solemn celebration of the Sacred Liturgy -and penance, are traditional characteristics of Norbertine life.
Drawing attention to central characteristic of our Order since the time of St. Norbert, Eucharistic devotion, Pope St. John Paul said: "Hold high the Eucharist over the miseries and errors of the world, to bring certainty of truth and love to the people today." "Cf. Constitutions n.34.""The CISP, respecting the autonomy of each Community, brings together in a sisterly bond all women’s communities that share a Norbertine identity," living according to the one common Charism. "The CISP functions under the aegis of the Order of Praemonstratensian Fathers". (Dir. of CISP)
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