Saint Anselm of Canterbury

[Saint Anselm of Canterbury]
Also known as
Anselmo
Anselmo d'Aosta
Doctor of Scholasticism
Memorial
21 April
Profile
Born to the 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 worldly 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. Counsellor 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 celibate 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
Anselm - The Joy of Faith, by William M Shannon
Anselm's Monologium, by R J Kilcullen
Anselm's Proof, by Gyula Klima
Anselm's Proslogion, by R J Kilcullen
Biography.Com
Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
Brittania Biographies
Catholic Encyclopedia, by W H Kent
Catholic Forum
Christian Biographies, by James Keifer
Columbia Encyclopedia
Communium Rerum, by Pope Pius X
Ecole Glossary, by Karen Rae Keck
For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein
Garth Kemerling
Google Directory: Saint Anselm
Google Directory: Works
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Jaspar Hopkins: translations of works
Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
Lives of the Saints, by John J Crawley
Medieval Source Book
New Catholic Dictionary
Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson
Prayer to Saint Mary Magdalene
The Saints: A Concise Dictionary, by John Coulson
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Society
The Window
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
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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
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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