Saint Anselm of Canterbury

Also known as

Anselmo
Anselmo d'Aosta
Doctor of Scholasticism

Memorial

21 April

Profile

Italian nobility. After a childhood devoted to piety and study, Anselm wanted to enter religious life, but his father prevented it, and Anselm became rather wordly for several years. Upon his mother's death, Anselm argued with his father, fled to France, and became a Benedictine monk at Bec, Normandy. Studied under and succeeded Lanfranc as abbot. Archbishop of Canterbury. Theological writer. Counselor to Pope Gregory VII, Pope Urban II, and William the Conqueror. Opposed slavery and obtained English legislation prohibiting the sale of men. Fought King William Rufus's encroachment on ecclesiastical rights and the independence of the Church, and was exiled. Resolved theological doubts of the Italo-Greek bishops at Council of Bari in 1098. Strongly supported celebate clergy. King Henry I invited him to return to England, but they disputed over investitures, and Anselm was exiled again to return in 1106. One of the great philosophers and theologians of the middle ages. Doctor of the Church in 1720 by Pope Clement XI.

Born

1033 at Aosta, Piedmont, Italy

Died

21 April 1109 at Canterbury, England; body believed to be in the cathedral church at Canterbury

Canonized

1492 by Pope Alexander IV

Representation

Benedictine monk admonishing an evildoer; archbishop; ship; with Our Lady appearing before him; with a ship

Prayers

...for All Classes of People

Images

Gallery of images of Saint Anselm

Additional Information

Google Directory: Saint Anselm
Google Directory: Works
Christian Biographies, by James Keifer
Prayer to Saint Mary Magdalene
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Praise of Glory
Biography.Com
Columbia Encyclopedia
Catholic Forum
The Saints: A Concise Dictionary, by John Coulson
Jaspar Hopkins: translations of works
Lives of the Saints, by John J Crawley
Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
Anselm's Proof, by Gyula Klima
Medieval Source Book
Anselm's Monologium, by R J Kilcullen
Anselm's Proslogion, by R J Kilcullen
Catholic Encyclopedia, by W H Kent
Garth Kemerling
For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein
Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Society
The Window
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Oxford Companion to Philosophy
Ecole Glossary, by Karen Rae Keck
Communium Rerum, by Pope Pius X

Works

Proslogium: Discourse on the Existence of God
Monologium: On The Being Of God
Anselm's Apologetic: In Reply to Gaunilon's Answer in Behalf of the Fool

Print References

New Catholic Dictionary

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Readings

O God, let me know you and love you so that I may find joy in you; and if I cannot do so fully in this life, let me at least make some progress every day, until at last that knowledge, love and joy come to me in all their plenitude. While I am here on earth let me know you fully; let my love for you grow deeper here, so that there I may love you fully. On earth then I shall have great joy in hope, and in heaven complete joy in the fulfillment of my hope.

O, Lord, through your Son you command us, no, you counsel us to ask, and you promise that you will hear us so that our joy may be complete. Give me then what you promise to give through your Truth. You, O God, are faithful; grant that I may receive my request, so that my joy may be complete.

- Saint Anselm

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No one will have any other desire in heaven than what God wills; and the desire of one will be the desire of all; and the desire of all and of each one will also be the desire of God."

- Saint Anselm, Opera Omnis, Letter 112

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