Robert of Newminster, St.

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ROBERT OF NEWMINSTER, ST.

Abbot; b. Yorkshire; d. Newminster, June 7, 1159. After studies in Paris he returned to England and was active as a secular priest, then as a Benedictine monk at the Abbey of whitby. In 1132 Robert joined the cister cians, participated in the foundation of the Abbey of fountains, and in 1139 founded and became the first abbot of Newminster, near Morpeth, Northumberland. Under Robert, Newminster grew phenomenally, establishing three daughterhouses, Pipewell, Roche, and Sawley, in less than 10 years. Robert's tomb at Newminster became the scene of numerous miracles and was a popular pilgrimage shrine until the Reformation. He was never formally canonized, but in 1656 the Cistercian Order approved his cult.

Feast: June 7.

Bibliography: Acta Sanctorum June 2:4649. j. d. dalgairns, The Cistercian Saints of England (London 1844). g. mÜller, "Der hl. Robert, Abt von Newminster," Cistercienser-Chronik 5 (1893) 321328. s. lenssen, Hagiologium cisterciense, 2 v. (Tilburg 194849; suppl. 1951) 1:9799.

[l. j. lekai]

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