Saint Anselm of Canterbury

Biography

Saint Anselm of Canterbury, also known as Anselm of Aosta, Anselmo d’Aosta, and Anselmo of Canterbury, was born in 1033 in Aosta, Piedmont, Italy. He came from a noble family and displayed a strong devotion to piety and study from a young age. At the age of 15, Anselm desired to enter religious life, but his father, Gondulf, prevented him from doing so, causing Anselm to become involved in worldly pursuits for several years. However, upon the death of his mother, Ermenberge, Anselm found himself in a disagreement with his father and decided to flee to France in 1056. There, he became a Benedictine monk at the monastery of Bec in Normandy in 1060. Under the guidance of Lanfranc, Anselm studied passionately and eventually succeeded him as prior of the monastery in 1063 and was later appointed as the abbot in 1078. Due to the close proximity and political connections between Normandy and England, Anselm frequently traveled and communicated with Church officials in England. In 1092, he was reluctantly chosen as the Archbishop of Canterbury, England. It is said that officials had to wait until Anselm was too sick to argue before he agreed to take on this role. As Archbishop, Anselm found himself resisting King William Rufus's encroachment on ecclesiastical rights and the independence of the Church. He staunchly refused to pay bribes to assume his position and was eventually exiled for his unwavering efforts. During his exile, Anselm traveled to Rome and became an advisor to Pope Blessed Urban II, gaining support from the Pope to return to England and conduct Church affairs without interference from the king. At the Council of Bari in 1098, Anselm resolved theological doubts among the Italo-Greek bishops. In 1100, King Henry II invited Anselm to return to England, but their disagreements over lay investiture led to another exile. Anselm was once again exiled, but he returned in 1106 when King Henry agreed not to interfere with the selection of Church officials. Anselm used his influence to advocate against slavery and succeeded in obtaining English legislation that prohibited the sale of men. He also strongly supported celibate clergy and approved the addition of several saints to the liturgical calendar of England. Saint Anselm was not only an influential and respected figure within the Church but also a renowned philosopher and theologian of the Middle Ages. He was more at home in the monastic setting than in political circles, yet he still managed to elevate the position of the Church in England. Anselm served as a counsellor to Pope Gregory VII and was eventually designated as a Doctor of the Church in 1720 by Pope Clement XI. Saint Anselm is often depicted in various representations, including as a Benedictine monk admonishing an evil-doer, an archbishop, performing an exorcism on a monk, and even with Our Lady appearing before him. A ship is sometimes included in his portrayal as a symbol of his frequent travels. His feast day is celebrated on April 21st, and he passed away on Holy Wednesday, April 21, 1109, in Canterbury, Kent, England. It is believed that his remains are interred in the cathedral church at Canterbury. Pope Alexander IV officially canonized Anselm in 1492. Though he is not known to have a specific patronage, Saint Anselm's teachings and writings continue to inspire and guide many within the Catholic Church.