St. Anselm

CURRICULUM VITAE

He hails from the northern Italian city of Aosta. While wandering through France in his youth, he learned that the world’s vanities cannot make a person happy. He arrived at Bec, where the monk Lanfranc helped him rediscover his love for piety and a virtuous life. He entered the Bec monastery and became Lanfranc’s successor, later becoming abbot himself. In 1093, he was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in England, a position from which he was exiled twice. He wrote numerous philosophical, theological, and mystical texts, earning him the title of the “father of scholasticism.” Through his actions, he finally secured the church’s freedom.

CV FOR MEDITATION

WITH GOD’S GRACE HE ACHIEVED THE FREEDOM OF THE CHURCH

Anselm was born in 1033 in Aosta, Piedmont, into a wealthy family. His mother, Ermenberg, raised him well, but she died young and he did not get along with his strict father, Gundulf. His father’s frequent criticism and anger hindered his upbringing, and, at the age of 16, he left home, crossing the mountains to France, where he wandered aimlessly for three years. Although he sought entertainment, he felt empty and despondent inside.

Reflecting on the purpose of his life, he decided to study at the Benedictine Abbey in Bec, Normandy, where the renowned monk Lanfranc taught. He studied diligently, mastering the basics that his devout mother had taught him and completing his conversion. Following his father’s death, he renounced the world’s vanities forever, using his inheritance for charitable purposes. At the age of 27, he accepted the monastic habit of St Benedict.

As a monk, he excelled in a pious and ascetic lifestyle, continuing his studies zealously. Three years later, when Lanfranc was appointed abbot of the monastery of St Stephen in Caen, Anselm succeeded him as prior in Bec. He led the monks with humility, patience, meekness, and kindness. He observed religious rules, fasted, taught at the monastery school during the day, and divided his nights between prayer, research, and writing learned books, devoting very little time to sleep. He often meditated before the crucifixion, feeling regret for his past offenses. He hated sin and had great respect for the Virgin Mary. He took a fatherly approach to caring for sick monks. People came to his school at Bec Abbey from various parts of France, Germany, the Netherlands, and England. Following the example of St. Augustine, Anselm supplemented Christian truths with rational arguments, showing their depth and organizing them scientifically, which made him famous.

He combined theology with the teachings of the ancient Greek philosophers, laying the foundation for the scholastic philosophical system. He believed that one must first have firm faith in God’s revelations and the Church’s teachings before embarking on a scientific journey. His guiding principle was ‘I believe in order to understand.’

His writings gained him such fame that even popes and rulers were interested in him, and many sought his advice. His writings were copied throughout Europe.

His simple lessons, drawn from everyday events, are also worth noting. For example, when an abbot complained to him about the disobedience of his young charges, Anselm pointed out that even wholesome food such as dry bread would harm a small child, who needs milk above all else. Similarly, young people need kindness and patience; without these, severity is harmful. Without love, distrust and hatred of all beneficial things flourish in young people. Just as a goldsmith must bend, shape and smooth gold to make a golden vessel, so an educator must have love as their main principle.

He once saw a young man playing with a tied-up bird, releasing it and then pulling it back again. He drew the lesson that the devil plays with souls in a similar way. Those accustomed to sin want freedom, but as soon as they make progress, they are dragged back into unrighteousness by the devil through the power of their passions. They can only be free when, with God’s grace, they break free from their evil habits.

Following the death of Abbot Herluin in 1078, Anselm was elected as his successor. Since the Bec Abbey also had estates in England, Anselm had to travel there several times to negotiate with King William I.
However, after William I’s death, his son William II, also known as William the Red, succeeded him. During this period, the Church in England experienced difficult times. William II assumed the right to appoint clergymen to the bishopric and abbey, from whom he made a profit by collecting pensions for his wars, and he ignored the Pope’s words. The Archbishopric of Canterbury was also abandoned, and its pensions were appropriated by the king. He summoned Anselm to his court and promised to rectify the wrongs if he recovered from his serious illness. Anselm was elected Archbishop of Canterbury, but he accepted the position very reluctantly, aware of the future tribulations. His fears that William II would continue to oppress the Church after his recovery were realised. Anselm was sorry that some bishops did not dare to resist the violent king. They even tried to persuade him to support them in their quest for peace. He is said to have replied to them: ‘I understand. If you wish, go to your master. I will stick to God!’ He strove to be a good shepherd, fighting against sacrilege in his archdiocese. He acted persistently, consistently, and deliberately, yet gently, against the king. Nevertheless, the king wanted to overthrow him, threatening that if he visited Rome, he would not be allowed to return to England. Nevertheless, after saying goodbye to his clergy, Anselm went to see the Pope in 1097. Urban II received him in Rome and promised to help him defend the Church’s rights in England.

While in Rome, Anselm fell ill. While convalescing in the countryside, he wrote the book Why God Became Incarnate. After negotiating with William II for some time, he became the Pope’s advisor and was invited to a church council in Bari, southern Italy, where the schism with the Greeks was discussed. There, Anselm defended the teaching that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. The behaviour of William II, whom the bishops wanted to excommunicate, was also discussed there. However, Anselm begged for a postponement of such a step. The laws prohibiting the investiture, or confirmation, of church dignitaries by secular rulers were renewed..

In 1099, Anselm left Bari for a council in Rome, and from there he traveled on to Lyon, as negotiations with the English king were taking too long. In autumn 1100, William II was fatally wounded by an arrow while hunting, and Anselm wept for his unrepentant death. Henry I, the new king, was intimidated by the fate of his predecessor and summoned Anselm from exile. Anselm then exercised his pastoral office in peace for three years. However, Henry I did not want to relinquish his supposed right to appoint bishops and thus came into conflict with Archbishop Anselm. The king demanded that Anselm consecrate the bishops he had appointed or leave the country. So Anselm travelled to Rome again to meet Paschal II. Henry I also sent an embassy, but the Pope approved the archbishop’s actions. This angered Henry I, who banned Anselm from entering England again. He therefore took refuge with his friend, Bishop Hugh, in Lyon once more. There, he lived ascetically and did penance for the conversion of the king and his orphaned flock. Meanwhile, his sister tried to reconcile him with the king. Finally, in 1106, the king met with Anselm in Normandy. Henry I renounced his supposed right to investiture, wanting only an oath of loyalty from the bishops and abbots, which they were to take while tied to the altar.

The people rejoiced at Anselm’s return, and Queen Matilda venerated him as a saint. The king even appointed him temporary administrator of the empire in his absence. As long as his health permitted, Anselm remained very zealous. Towards the end of his life, however, he was no longer able to celebrate Holy Mass and would only have it carried to the church. During Holy Week, clad in a sackcloth robe sprinkled with ashes, he died at the age of 76.

RESOLUTION, PRAYER

I will offer tithes to the Church and make a vow for the same purpose.
O God, who granted the holy bishop Anselm the ability to comprehend the depths of your wisdom and to teach it to others, grant us the same grace, so that we may joyfully receive the truths that you reveal to us in our hearts and be guided by the light of faith. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forevermore.