Anselm of Canterbury

Anselm of Canterbury was an important Italian religious leader who lived a long time ago, from about 1033 or 1034 until 1109. He was also called Anselm of Aosta, after the place he was born, and Anselm of Bec, after the monastery where he lived. He became the Archbishop of Canterbury in England in 1093 and stayed in that role until he passed away in 1109.

During his time as Archbishop, Anselm worked hard to protect the interests of the Church in England. This was a busy time because of something called the Investiture Controversy. Because of his strong beliefs, two English kings, William II and Henry I, sent him away from England twice. The first time was from 1097 to 1100, and the second time was from 1105 to 1107.

While Anselm was away, he went to a meeting called the Council of Bari. There, he helped convince some church leaders in southern Italy to use the Roman Rite way of doing things. Back in England, Anselm also worked to make sure that the Archbishop of Canterbury had more importance than the Archbishop of York and the bishops in Wales. By the time he passed away, it seemed like he was successful, but later a pope changed some decisions.

Anselm was also a smart thinker and writer. He wrote many books that mixed deep religious ideas with logical thinking. Because of this, some people say he started a way of thinking called Scholasticism. He is especially famous for creating an idea called the ontological argument, which tries to prove that God exists. After he died, Anselm was named a saint, and his special day is celebrated on April 21. Later, in 1720, a pope named Pope Clement XI gave him an important title called Doctor of the Church.

Biography

Anselm was born around 1033 or 1034 in Aosta, in what is now Italy. He grew up in a time when the area was part of Burgundy. His family faced challenges due to political changes.

At 15, Anselm wanted to join a monastery but needed his father's permission, which he didn't get. Later, after his mother died and his father became stricter, Anselm left home at 23. He traveled through France and eventually reached Normandy in 1059. There, he met Lanfranc and decided to join the monastery at Bec. At 27, he became a monk and began writing about philosophy.

Anselm became the prior of Bec in 1063 and was elected abbot in 1078. Under his leadership, Bec became a center of learning. He wrote important works and defended the monastery's independence.

In 1093, Anselm was named Archbishop of Canterbury. As archbishop, he worked to support church reforms and the authority of the church. His efforts to maintain church independence from the king led to two periods of exile. Despite these challenges, Anselm continued to work for the church until his death in 1109.

Writings

Anselm was a brilliant thinker known for his deep understanding of faith and reason. He believed that faith and understanding could work together, saying we should believe in order to understand. His writings explore big ideas about God, truth, and what it means to be good.

He wrote in different styles, including conversations between teachers and students. Some of his most famous works include Monologion, where he uses reason to argue for God’s existence, and Proslogion, which presents a famous argument known as the ontological argument. In Cur Deus Homo, he explains why Jesus came to Earth using logical reasoning about justice and mercy.

Anselm also wrote letters and other works that discuss topics like the nature of the Trinity, free will, and the importance of Mary’s purity. His writings have influenced Christian thought for centuries.

Legacy

Two books about Anselm were written soon after he passed away by his helper Eadmer and a monk named Alexander. Eadmer also wrote about Anselm's challenges with English kings in another book. Later, a writer named John of Salisbury wrote about Anselm for Thomas Becket. Famous historians like William of Malmesbury, Orderic Vitalis, and Matthew Paris also described Anselm's battles with the kings.

Anselm taught many students, including Eadmer, Alexander, Gilbert Crispin, Honorius Augustodunensis, and Anselm of Laon. His writings were shared widely and influenced many great thinkers like Bonaventure, Thomas Aquinas, Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham. His ideas helped shape discussions about the Holy Spirit and the atonement, and they also touched on topics like free will and predestination.

Veneration

Anselm had a special dream when he was a child where he saw God and spoke with him. Later, he became a very important religious leader and was honored as a saint. Many churches celebrate his life and work on April 21, the day he passed away.

Anselm was named a great teacher of the church long after he lived. There are buildings and schools named after him, and he is still remembered and honored today in many Christian traditions.

Editions of Anselm's works

Many books have been written about the works of Anselm of Canterbury. Some important ones include:

• Gerberon, Gabriel published The Works of St Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury in 1675.
• Ubaghs, Gerard Casimir published On Knowing God in 1854.
• Deane, Sidney Norton published St. Anselm: Proslogium, Monologium, and Cur Deus Homo in 1903.
• Schmitt, Franz Sales published many works on Anselm, including A New Unfinished Work by St Anselm of Canterbury in 1936 and The Complete Works of St Anselm in 1968.
• Southern, Richard W. and others published Memorials of St. Anselm in 1969.
• Ward, Benedicta published The Prayers and Meditations of Saint Anselm in 1973.
• Hopkins, Jasper and others published Anselm of Canterbury in 1976.
• Fröhlich, Walter published The Letters of Saint Anselm of Canterbury between 1990 and 1994.
• Davies, Brian and others published Anselm of Canterbury: The Major Works in 1998.
• Williams, Thomas published Anselm: Basic Writings in 2007 and an expanded version in 2022.