St. Anselm was born in 1033 into the noble Lombard family in Aosta, Italy. His mother, Ermenberga, was a pious woman, but after her death, his father's violence and harshness led Anselm to flee home. After several years of wandering in France, he took the Benedictine habit in 1060 at Bec, France. Anselm's learning and expertise were exceptional, and within a span of three years, he was made Prior and, after another 15 years, despite his reluctance, Abbot.
During his days at Bec, Anselm wrote his well-known philosophical and theological works on the existence and nature of God, the Monologium and the Proslogium. Under his leadership, the Abbey of Bec became a monastic school, influential in philosophical and theological studies. Anselm's holiness and prudence as Abbot earned him widespread recognition and admiration, leading to his appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1093. His care and concern extended to the very poorest people. Anselm's staunch opposition to the slave trade resulted in a significant achievement: he successfully obtained a resolution from the national council at Westminster prohibiting the sale of human beings.
King William refused to cooperate with Anselm's efforts to reform the Church. Anselm's insistence on the Church's self-governance, against the state's claims to its administration and property, caused him to be exiled from England. Though personally a mild and gentle man and a lover of peace, he would not back off from conflict and persecution when the rights of the Church were at stake. Anselm was successful in his struggle and returned to his archdiocese in 1106. Anselm died at Canterbury on 21 April 1109. The influence of St. Anselm on the subsequent course of theology led Pope Clement XI to name him a Doctor of the Church in 1720.
St. Anselm, you dedicated your life to seeking and teaching the depths of divine wisdom; obtain for us the grace to spread the good news with love and conviction.
#stanselm #saint #shalomworldprayer
Prepared and updated by:
Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Penampang, Sabah Malaysia.
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