Catholic Saints
Saint Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109 AD), an Italian-born Benedictine monk, philosopher, and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 until his death, stands as a pivotal figure in medieval theology and Western intellectual history, bridging monastic spirituality with the emerging scholastic tradition. Born into a noble family in Aosta, he left home to pursue monastic life, eventually joining the Abbey of Bec in Normandy, where his brilliance as a teacher and thinker flourished. A Doctor of the Church, Anselm is renowned for his Proslogion, which introduced the ontological argument for God’s existence, a groundbreaking philosophical proof that shaped centuries of debate, and for Cur Deus Homo, a seminal work on the atonement that redefined Christian soteriology. His tenure as archbishop saw struggles with English kings over Church authority, reflecting his commitment to reform and ecclesiastical independence. Known for his piety and rigorous logic, his feast day is celebrated on April 21, and he was named a Doctor of the Church in 1720 by Pope Clement XI, leaving a legacy as the “Father of Scholasticism” whose intellect and faith illuminated the medieval mind.
His feast day is celebrated on April 21.
Doctor of the Church
Born in 1033 AD in Aosta, Saint Anselm of Canterbury rose as a monk, philosopher, and archbishop, weaving a legacy of theological brilliance and ecclesiastical leadership in medieval Europe.
Anselm was born in 1033 AD in Aosta, a town in the Piedmont region of the Kingdom of Burgundy (now Italy), to a noble Lombard family. His father, Gundulf, was a landowner of some wealth, while his mother, Ermenberga, instilled in him a deep piety. As a youth, Anselm sought monastic life, but familial opposition delayed his calling, leading him to leave home at 23 after a rift with his father.
Traveling through the Alps, he arrived in Normandy by 1059, drawn to the Abbey of Bec by the reputation of its prior, Lanfranc, a fellow Italian scholar. This formative period in a region poised between Frankish and Norman influences shaped Anselm’s intellectual curiosity and spiritual resolve, setting the stage for his later contributions to theology and Church governance.
Anselm joined Bec in 1060, becoming a monk under Lanfranc’s mentorship, and was ordained a priest around 1063. By 1078, he succeeded Lanfranc as prior, and in 1093 as abbot, transforming Bec into a center of learning. His early works, like Monologion (1076) and Proslogion (1078), introduced his ontological argument for God’s existence—“that than which nothing greater can be conceived”—a landmark in philosophical theology.
At Bec, Anselm taught novices, blending prayer with rigorous dialectic, and fostered a community of intellectual monks. His approach, dubbed “faith seeking understanding,” married devotion with reason, laying the groundwork for scholasticism. This period of quiet scholarship honed his mind, preparing him for the challenges of ecclesiastical leadership in England.
In 1093, Anselm was reluctantly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, succeeding Lanfranc, amid pressure from King William II (Rufus) and the English clergy. Installed after a four-year delay due to royal disputes, he faced immediate challenges—defending Church rights against royal encroachments, notably the investiture controversy over appointing bishops, which led to his exile in 1097–1100.
Returning under Henry I, Anselm negotiated a compromise in 1107, securing papal authority over investitures while allowing royal influence, a resolution shaping Church-state relations. His tenure saw reforms—convening councils, enforcing clerical celibacy—and a steadfast commitment to Canterbury’s primacy, cementing his role as a defender of ecclesiastical independence in a turbulent Norman England.
Anselm’s Cur Deus Homo (Why God Became Man), completed in 1098 during exile, revolutionized Christian soteriology by proposing the satisfaction theory of atonement. Arguing that humanity’s sin offended God’s honor, requiring Christ’s voluntary sacrifice to restore justice, it shifted theology from ransom theories, offering a rational framework still influential in Catholic doctrine.
His other works, like De Veritate and De Libertate Arbitrii, explored truth and free will, blending Augustine’s insights with logical precision. Written amidst pastoral duties, these treatises solidified Anselm’s reputation as the “Father of Scholasticism,” merging faith and reason in a way that inspired later thinkers like Thomas Aquinas.
Anselm’s philosophical method—using reason to deepen faith—set him apart in an era dominated by authority-based theology. His Proslogion’s ontological argument, refined over decades, posited God’s existence as a necessary truth, sparking debate among medieval and modern philosophers, from Gaunilo to Kant. His writings, concise yet profound, bridged monastic contemplation with emerging university thought.
His letters and prayers, like the Meditations, reveal a personal piety complementing his logic, influencing devotional literature. Named a Doctor of the Church in 1720 by Pope Clement XI, Anselm’s rational voice resonated beyond Canterbury, shaping Western theology and earning him enduring reverence as a pioneer of intellectual faith.
Anselm died on April 21, 1109, at Canterbury, aged 76, and was buried in the cathedral, his tomb a site of veneration until lost in the Reformation. His feast day, April 21, honors a life of scholarship and sanctity. Canonized in 1494 by Pope Alexander VI, he was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1720, recognizing his theological depth.
Saint Anselm of Canterbury’s legacy lies in his fusion of reason and faith, shaping scholasticism and atonement theology. His Proslogion and Cur Deus Homo influenced medieval thinkers like Duns Scotus, while his Church reforms bolstered ecclesiastical autonomy. Revered as a saint of intellect and piety, his work endures, a testament to the power of understanding in pursuit of God.
“I do not seek to understand in order to believe, but I believe in order to understand.”
Born in Aosta.
Born to noble family.
Joined Abbey of Bec.
Entered monastic life.
Wrote Proslogion.
Introduced ontological argument.
Appointed to Canterbury.
Became Archbishop.
Died at Canterbury.
Named Doctor of the Church in 1720.
“I do not seek to understand in order to believe, but I believe in order to understand.”
Saint Anselm of Canterbury Quotes
“God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived, and He exists in reality as well as in the mind.”
“Sin is an infinite offense against God, requiring an infinite satisfaction, which only God Himself can provide.”
“Faith seeks understanding, for the heart longs to know what it believes.”
“The truth is eternal, unchangeable, and exists in God alone, who is its source.”
“Free will is the power to choose what is good, and true freedom is to choose God.”
“O Lord, you are my hope, my strength, my refuge; without you, I am nothing.”