Saint Anselm (1033-1109) was born in Aosta, Italy, and died in Canterbuy, England. St. Anselm’s services to the Church are principally the following: First, as Archbishop of Canterbury he defended the rights and liberties of the Church against the encroachments of the English kings, who plundered the Church’s lands, impeded the Archbishop’s communications with the Holy See, and claimed the right to invest prelates with ring and crosier, symbols of the Church’s spiritual jurisdiction. Second, as a philosopher and theologian he developed a method of reasoning which prepared the way for the great thinkers of the Middle Ages. Third, he had a great devotion to Our Lady and was the first to establish the feast of the Immaculate Conception in the West.

As prior and abbot, Anselm made the Benedictine monastery of Bec the center of a true reformation in Normandy and England. From this monastery he exercised a restraining influence on popes, kings, the worldly great, and entire religious orders. Raised to the dignity of Archbishop of Canterbury and primate of England, he waged a heroic campaign in defense of the rights and liberties of the Church. As a result he was deprived of goods and position and finally banned from the country. He journeyed to Rome, and at the Council of Bari supported Pope Urban II against the errors of the Greeks. His writings bear eloquent testimony to his moral stature and learning, and have earned for him the title of “Father of Scholasticism.”— The Church’s Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

St. Anselm exhibited remarkable versatility in his life; a combination of contemplation, prayer, study, writing, and external activity. This was partly the result of the extraordinary talent that God gave him, but it was likewise the fruit of Anselm’s faithful exercise of his talent in the study of natural and supernatural truths.

But his chief merit lay in his earnest, conscious effort to live in accordance with what he had learned from the study of divine truths. By this means he was able to ascend to the heights of a life of faith and union with God. There is very much that we can learn from this great teacher. “Lord, I do not presume to fathom the depths of your truths, for my understanding is not equal to the task. Nevertheless, I desire to learn Your truths in some measure—those truths that I believe and love. I do not seek to gain knowledge so that I can believe; rather, I believe so that I may gain knowledge. No matter how persistently my soul gazes, it still beholds nothing of Your beauty; my soul listens intently, and yet it hears nothing of the learning of Your Being; my soul wants to breathe in Your fragrance, and yet perceives none of it. What are You, Lord? Under what image can my heart recognize You? Truly, You are life; You are truth; You are Goodness; You are Holiness; You are eternity; You are everything good! O man, why do you roam about so far in search of good things for soul and body? Love the one Good, in whom all goods are contained, and that will satisfy you!” (St. Anselm.)

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14 COMMENTS

  1. pray oh St Anselme that i may think like you that i make not seek knowledge to believe but believe to have knowledge

  2. ST. ANSELME, PLEASE PRAY WITH ME FOR MY SON TO BE LIFTED UP IN BODY AND SOUL BY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,AND TO BE HEAL’D.

  3. The miracle gives me such joy Go dis trying to convince us that He truly alive – Oh that man will know His truths – YOU see I have had a miracle my picture of the Blessed Virgin wept blood – I showed the picture to my priest – There have been quite a few traumatic trails lately but my HOPE IS IN THE LORD HE IS OUR ROCK – Amen

  4. Lord, my Lord, i offer you the longings of my heart.. You know them, Lord… Most esp. Juergen, nelson, linda, evie and those eho are sick and suffering..Thy will be done

  5. Let me inhale contemplation, and exhale prayer. Thank you, St. Anselm, for your steadfast example, and please pray for those who think they’re intelligent but know nothing of God. Reconcile all scholars, writers, journalists, etc. to deep Faith so they can do less harm and more good, in The Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

  6. O Heavenly Father i thank thee for thy blessed n Holy Clergy.we beg their prays that Jesus Christ bless us n keep us all in God mighty name amen

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