St. Anselm

Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Anselm. St. Anselm was born to a noble family in Piedmont, Italy during the year 1033.

St. Anselm's mother who was very pious person took care of him. Ever since a young age she taught him about piety, and her pious actions impacted St. Anselm for the rest of his life because he learned how to be more pious.

St. Anselm was very indifferent towards religion when he was a young man. When St. Anselm grew up he became one of the Church’s greatest theologians and leaders. St. Anselm even received the title as the “Father of Scholasticism” for his attempt to analyze and illumine the truths of faith through the aid of reason.

When St. Anselm turned 15 years old, St. Anselm made the decision that he wanted to enter a monastery. However St. Anselm was refused acceptance due to his father’s opposition.

Twelve years later, after St. Anselm had lived a life filled with careless disinterest in religion, had to experience the death of both his parents and lived a life filled with worldly things, he decided to finally fulfill his desire to be a monk.

After, St. Anselm made this decision he entered the monastery of Bec which was located in Normandy, France. St. Anselm was elected prior three years later, and 15 years later, St. Anselm was unanimously chosen abbot.

St. Anselm was considered to be a very original and independent thinker. St. Anselm was also admired for the patience, gentleness, and teaching skills he showed to everyone. During St. Anselm’s leadership, the Abbey of Bec became a monastic school and it was extremely influential in philosophical and theological studies.

During St. Anselm’s leadership years, his community requested that St. Anselm started to publish all of his theological works, because they believed they were comparable to those of Saint Augustine. His best-known work is the book Cur Deus Homo (“Why God Became Man”).

During the year 1093, against St. Anselm’s will, St. Anselm was appointed archbishop of Canterbury and he was 60 years old at the time. St. Anselm’s appointment was opposed at first by the king of England, King William Rufus and was later accepted. King Rufus persistently refused to follow and cooperate with the efforts to reform the Church.

St. Anselm decided to go into voluntary exile until King Rufus had passed away during the year 1100. St. Anselm was later recalled to England by Rufus’ brother and successor, Henry I. Disagreeing fearlessly with Henry over the king’s insistence on investing England’s bishops, St. Anselm decided to spend another three years in exile in Rome.

St. Anselm cared and helped everyone including the very poorest people. St. Anselm also opposed the slave trade, St. Anselm obtained from the national council at Westminster the passage of a resolution prohibiting the sale of human beings.

St. Anselm passed away on April 21, 1109 and his feast day is celebrated on April 21.

Prayer to St. Anselm:

St. Anselm intercede that we may be able to guide more people to Christ even if we face ridicule and harassment. St. Anselm help us to repent to Christ for all the wrong that we have done so that we may strengthen our devotion to God and accomplish his will.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord and Mary Our Mother Heaven

Amen

St. Joseph pray for us

St. Anselm pray for us

May we continue to strengthen our journey to sainthood and keep others in our prayers.

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Works cited:

Information (read from, not taken):

Franciscan Media. “St. Anselm. ”Saint Anselm | Franciscan Media. Accessed 21 April 2021.

Images:

St. Anselm. April 21, 2021. st. anselm - Google Search.