Saint Anselm

Anselm of Canterbury (1033/4–1109) was an Italian Benedictine abbot, philosopher, and theologian who served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to 1109. He defended the Church's interests in England during the Investiture Controversy, resisting the exactions of English kings William II and Henry I, which led to his exile twice—once from 1097 to 1100 and then from 1105 to 1107. During these periods, he participated in the Council of Bari, where he helped convince Greek Catholic bishops of southern Italy to adopt the Roman Rite. Anselm also asserted the primacy of Canterbury over the Archbishop of York and the bishops of Wales; however, this was later reversed by Pope Paschal II. His theological works, composed at Bec, included dialogues and treatises with both mystical and rational approaches, making him a key figure in Scholasticism despite his lack of recognition during his lifetime.

He is famously known for originating the ontological argument for the existence of God and the satisfaction theory of atonement. After his death, Anselm was canonized as a saint on 21 April, and he was later proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Clement XI in 1720.