A Benedictine Communion of Saints
Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B.
Saint Anselm of Canterbury is remembered as one of the most important Christian thinkers of the Middle Ages. Living during the eleventh and early twelfth centuries, he combined a life of monastic devotion with a deep commitment to philosophical and theological reflection. Although he eventually became Archbishop of Canterbury, Anselm always considered himself first and foremost a monk. His writings, shaped by prayer and careful reasoning, helped establish new ways of thinking about faith that would influence Christian theology for centuries.
Anselm was born in 1033 in Aosta, a town located in the Alpine region of what is now northern Italy. His family belonged to the local nobility, and he received a solid early education. As a young man, however, he experienced tension within his family, particularly with his father, which eventually led him to leave home. After several years of travel and study, Anselm arrived at the Benedictine monastery of Bec Abbey, which had become an important center of learning. There he encountered the respected teacher Lanfranc, whose guidance deeply influenced his intellectual development.
Anselm soon joined the monastic community at Bec and gradually gained recognition for both his spiritual maturity and his intellectual abilities. After Lanfranc left the monastery, Anselm eventually succeeded him as prior and later as abbot. During this period, he began writing several works that would become central to medieval theology. Among the most famous is the Proslogion, in which Anselm developed his well-known philosophical argument for the existence of God. His approach reflected a principle he often expressed in the phrase fides quaerens intellectum—faith seeking understanding.
Despite his preference for the quiet life of the monastery, Anselm was later drawn into the wider responsibilities of church leadership. In 1093 he was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, succeeding his former teacher Lanfranc. His time in this position proved difficult, largely because of conflicts with English kings over the independence of the Church. Anselm strongly defended the principle that spiritual authority should not be controlled by secular rulers. These disputes eventually led to periods of exile, though he remained respected for his integrity and firmness of conviction.
Throughout these challenges, Anselm continued to write and teach. His theological works addressed questions about the nature of God, the meaning of redemption, and the relationship between divine justice and mercy. One of his most influential writings, Cur Deus Homo (“Why God Became Man”), explored the Christian understanding of Christ’s incarnation and the purpose of salvation. Even in these complex discussions, Anselm maintained a style shaped by prayer and reflection, demonstrating how intellectual inquiry could remain closely connected to spiritual life.
Saint Anselm died in 1109 after decades devoted to both contemplation and service to the Church. His legacy rests not only in the theological arguments he developed but also in the spirit with which he pursued them.
Let us pray:
Lord our God,
who led the Bishop Saint Anselm to seek out and teach the depths of your wisdom,
grant, we pray, that our faith in you may so aid in our understanding,
that what we believe by your command may give delight to our hearts.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen!
April 21: St. Anselm. Proslogion, Monologion, Encyclopaedia Britannica
