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CATHOLICENCYCLOPEDIA:St.Anselm

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ArchbishopofCanterbury,DoctoroftheChurchbornatAostaaBurgundiantownonthe
confinesofLombardy,died21April,1109.
Hisfather,Gundulf,wasaLombardwhohadbecomeacitizenofAosta,andhismother,
Ermenberga,cameofanoldBurgundianfamily.Likemanyothersaints,Anselmlearnt
thefirstlessonsofpietyfromhismother,andataveryearlyagehewasfiredwiththe
loveoflearning.Inafterlifehestillcherishedthememoriesofchildhood,andhis
biographer,Eadmer,haspreservedsomeincidentswhichhehadlearntfromthesaint's
ownlips.ThechildhadheardhismotherspeakofGod,Whodweltonhighrulingall
things.Livinginthemountains,hethoughtthatHeavenmustbeontheirloftysummits.
"Andwhileheoftenrevolvedthesemattersinhismind,itchancedthatonenighthesaw
inavisionthathemustgouptothesummitofthemountainandhastentothecourtof
God,thegreatKing.Butbeforehebegantoascendthemountain,hesawintheplain
throughwhichhehadpassedtoitsfoot,women,whoweretheKing'shandmaidens,
reapingthecornbuttheyweredoingthisverynegligentlyandslothfully.Then,grieving
fortheirsloth,andrebukingthem,hebethoughthimthathewouldaccusethembefore
theirLordandKing.Thereafter,havingclimbedthemountainheenteredtheroyalcourt.
TherehefoundtheKingwithonlyhiscupbearer.Foritseemedthat,asitwasnow
Autumn,theKinghadsenthishouseholdtogathertheharvest.Astheboyenteredhewas
calledbytheMaster,anddrawingnighhesatathisfeet.Thenwithcheerykindlinesshe
wasaskedwhoandwhencehewasandwhathewasseeking.Tothesequestionshemade
answeraswellasheknew.ThenattheMaster'scommandsomemoistwhitebreadwas
broughthimbythecupbearerandhefeastedthereoninhispresence,whereforewhen
morningcameandhebroughttomindthethingshehadseen,asasimplerandinnocent
childhebelievedthathehadtrulybeenfedinheavenwiththebreadoftheLord,andthis
hepubliclyaffirmedinthepresenceofothers".(Eadmer,LifeofSt.Anselm,I,i.)Eadmer
addsthattheboywasbelovedbyallandmaderapidprogressinlearning.Beforehewas
fifteenhesoughtadmissiontoamonastery.Buttheabbot,fearingthefather'sdispleasure,
refusedhim.Theboythenmadeastrangeprayer.Heaskedforanillness,thinkingthis
wouldmovethemonkstoyieldtohiswishes.Theillnesscamebuthisadmissiontothe
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monasterywasstilldeniedhim.Nonethelesshedeterminedtogainhisendatsome
futuredate.Buterelonghewasdrawnawaybythepleasuresofyouthandlosthisfirst
ardourandhisloveoflearning.Hisloveforhismotherinsomemeasurerestrainedhim.
Butonherdeathitseemedthathisanchorwaslost,andhewasatthemercyofthewaves.
Atthistimehisfathertreatedhimwithgreatharshnesssomuchsothatheresolvedto
leavehishome.Takingasinglecompanion,hesetoutonfoottocrossMontCenis.Atone
timehewasfaintingwithhungerandwasfaintorefreshhisstrengthwithsnow,whenthe
servantfoundthatsomebreadwasstillleftinthebaggage,andAnselmregainedstrength
andcontinuedthejourney.AfterpassingnearlythreeyearsinBurgundyandFrance,he
cameintoNormandyandtarriedforawhileatAvranchesbeforefindinghishomeatthe
AbbeyofBec,thenmadeillustriousbyLanfranc'slearning.Anselmprofitedsowellby
thelessonsofthismasterthathebecamehismostfamiliardiscipleandsharedinthework
ofteaching.Afterspendingsometimeinthislabour,hebegantothinkthathistoilwould
havemoremeritifhetookthemonastichabit.Butatfirsthefeltsomereluctancetoenter
theAbbeyofBec,wherehewouldbeovershadowedbyLanfranc.Afteratime,however,
hesawthatitwouldprofithimtoremainwherehewouldbesurpassedbyothers.His
fatherwasnowdead,havingendedhisdaysinthemonastichabit,andAnselmhadsome
thoughtoflivingonhispatrimonyandrelievingtheneedy.Thelifeofahermitalso
presenteditselftohimasathirdalternative.Anxioustoactwithprudencehefirstasked
theadviceofLanfranc,whoreferredthemattertotheArchbishopofRouen.Thisprelate
decidedinfavourofthemonasticlife,andAnselmbecameamonkintheAbbeyofBec.
Thiswasin1060.Hislifeasasimplemonklastedforthreeyears,forin1063Lanfranc
wasappointedAbbotofCaen,andAnselmwaselectedtosucceedhimasPrior.Thereis
somedoubtastothedateofthisappointment.ButCanonPoreepointsoutthatAnselm,
writingatthetimeofhiselectionasArchbishop(1093),saysthathehadthenlivedthirty
threeyearsinthemonastichabit,threeyearsasamonkwithoutpreferment,fifteenas
prior,andfifteenasabbot(LettersofAnselm,III,vii).Thisisconfirmedbyanentryinthe
chronicleoftheAbbeyofBec,whichwascompilednotlaterthan1136.Hereitis
recordedthatAnselmdiedin1109,inthefortyninthyearofhismonasticlifeandthe
seventysixthofhisage,havingbeenthreeyearsasimplemonkfifteen,priorfifteen,
abbotandsixteenarchbishop(Poree,Histoiredel'abbayedeBec,III,173).Atfirsthis
promotiontotheofficevacatedbyLanfrancgaveoffencetosomeoftheothermonkswho
consideredtheyhadabetterclaimthantheyoungstranger.ButAnselmovercametheir
oppositionbygentleness,anderelonghadwontheiraffectionandobedience.Tothe
dutiesofpriorheaddedthoseofteacher.Itwaslikewiseduringthisperiodthathe
composedsomeofhisphilosophicalandtheologicalworks,notably,the"Monologium"
andthe"Proslogium".Besidesgivinggoodcounseltothemonksunderhiscare,hefound
timetocomfortothersbyhisletters.Rememberinghisattractionforthesolitudeofa
hermitagewecanhardlywonderthathefeltoppressedbythisbusylifeandlongedtolay
asidehisofficeandgivehimselfuptothedelightsofcontemplation.ButtheArchbishop
ofRouenbadehimretainhisofficeandprepareforyetgreaterburdens.
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Thisadvicewasprophetic,forin1078,onthedeathofHerluin,founderandfirstAbbotof
BecAnselmwaselectedtosucceedhim.Itwaswithdifficultythatthemonksovercame
hisreluctancetoaccepttheoffice.Hisbiographer,Eadmer,givesusapictureofastrange
scene.TheAbbotelectfellprostratebeforethebrethrenandwithtearsbesoughtthemnot
tolaythisburdenonhim,whiletheyprostratedthemselvesandearnestlybeggedhimto
accepttheoffice.HiselectionatoncebroughtAnselmintorelationswithEngland,where
theNormanabbeyhadseveralpossessions.Inthefirstyearofhisoffice,hevisited
CanterburywherehewaswelcomedbyLanfranc."TheconverseofLanfrancand
Anselm",saysProfessorFreeman,"setsbeforeusaremarkableandmemorablepair.The
lawyer,thesecularscholar,metthedivineandthephilosophertheecclesiastical
statesmanstoodfacetofacewiththesaint.Thewisdom,conscientiousnodoubtbutstill
hardandworldly,whichcouldguidechurchesandkingdomsintroubloustimeswasmet
bytheboundlesslovewhichtookinallGod'screaturesofwhateverraceorspecies"
(HistoryoftheNormanConquest,IV,442).Itisinterestingtonotethatoneofthematters
discussedonthisoccasionrelatedtoaSaxonarchbishop,Elphage(lfheah),whohad
beenputtodeathbytheDanesforrefusingtopayaransomwhichwouldimpoverishhis
people.Lanfrancdoubtedhisclaimtothehonoursofamartyrsincehedidnotdieforthe
Faith.ButAnselmsolvedthedifficultybysayingthathewhodiedforthislesserreason
wouldmuchmorebereadytodiefortheFaith.Moreover,Christistruthandjusticeand
hewhodiesfortruthandjusticediesforChrist.ItwasonthisoccasionthatAnselmfirst
metEadmer,thenayoungmonkofCanterbury.Atthesametimethesaint,whoinhis
childhoodwaslovedbyallwhoknewhim,andwho,asPriorofBec,hadwonthe
affectionofthosewhoresistedhisauthority,wasalreadygainingtheheartsof
Englishmen.Hisfamehadspreadfarandwide,andmanyofthegreatmenoftheage
prizedhisfriendshipandsoughthiscounsel.AmongthesewasWilliamtheConqueror,
whodesiredthatAnselmmightcometogivehimconsolationonhisdeathbed.
WhenLanfrancdied,WilliamRufuskepttheSeeofCanterburyvacantforfouryears,
seizeditsrevenues,andkepttheChurchinEnglandinastateofanarchy.Tomanythe
AbbotofBecseemedtobethemanbestfittedforthearchbishopric.Thegeneraldesire
wassoevidentthatAnselmfeltareluctancetovisitEnglandlestitshouldappearthathe
wasseekingtheoffice.Atlength,however,heyieldedtotheentreatyofHugh,Earlof
ChesterandcametoEnglandin1092.ArrivinginCanterburyontheeveoftheNativityof
theBlessedVirgin,hewashailedbythepeopleastheirfuturearchbishopbuthehastened
awayandwouldinnowiseconsenttoremainforthefestival.Ataprivateinterviewwith
theKing,whoreceivedhimkindly,hespokefreelyontheevilsbywhichthelandwas
madedesolate.Anselm'sownaffairskepthiminEnglandforsomemonths,butwhenhe
wishedtoreturntoBectheKingobjected.Meanwhilethepeoplemadenosecretoftheir
desires.WiththeKing'spermissionprayerswereofferedinallthechurchesthatGod
wouldmovetheKingtodelivertheChurchofCanterburybytheappointmentofapastor,
andattherequestofthebishopsAnselmdrewuptheformofprayer.TheKingfellill
earlyinthenewyear(1093),andonhissickbedhewasmovedtorepentance.The
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prelatesandbaronsurgedonhimthenecessityofelectinganarchbishop.Yieldingtothe
manifestdesireofallhenamedAnselm,andalljoyfullyconcurredintheelection.
Anselm,however,firmlyrefusedthehonour,whereuponanotherscenetookplacestill
morestrangethanthatwhichoccurredwhenhewaselectedabbot.Hewasdraggedby
forcetotheKing'sbedside,andapastoralstaffwasthrustintohisclosedhandhewas
bornethencetothealtarwherethe"TeDeum"wassung.Thereisnoreasontosuspectthe
sincerityofthisresistance.Naturallydrawntocontemplation,Anselmcouldhavelittle
likingforsuchanofficeeveninaperiodofpeacestilllesscouldhedesireitinthose
stormydays.Heknewfullwellwhatawaitedhim.TheKing'srepentancepassedaway
withhissicknessandAnselmsoonsawsignsoftrouble.Hisfirstoffencewashisrefusal
toconsenttothealienationofChurchlandswhichtheKinghadgrantedtohisfollowers.
AnotherdifficultyarosefromtheKing'sneedofmoney.Althoughhisseewas
impoverishedbytheroyalrapacity,theArchbishopwasexpectedtomakehismajestya
freegiftandwhenheofferedfivehundredmarkstheywerescornfullyrefusedas
insufficient.AsifthesetrialswerenotenoughAnselmhadtobearthereproachesofsome
ofthemonksofBecwhowereloathtolosehiminhislettersheisatpainstoshowthat
hedidnotdesiretheoffice.HefinallywasconsecratedArchbishopofCanterbury4
December,1093.ItnowremainedforhimtogotoRometoobtainthepallium.Buthere
wasafreshoccasionoftrouble.TheAntipopeClementwasdisputingtheauthorityof
UrbanII,whohadbeenrecognizedbyFranceandNormandy.Itdoesnotappearthatthe
EnglishKingwasapartisanoftheAntipope,buthewishedtostrengthenhisownposition
byassertinghisrighttodecidebetweentherivalclaimants.Hence,whenAnselmasked
leavetogotothePope,theKingsaidthatnooneinEnglandshouldacknowledgeeither
Popetillhe,theKing,haddecidedthematter.TheArchbishopinsistedongoingtoPope
Urban,whoseauthorityhehadalreadyacknowledged,and,ashehadtoldtheKing,this
wasoneoftheconditionsonwhichalonehewouldacceptthearchbishopric.Thisgrave
questionwasreferredtoacounciloftherealmheldatRockinghaminMarch,1095.Here
AnselmboldlyassertedtheauthorityofUrban.Hisspeechisamemorabletestimonyto
thedoctrineofpapalsupremacy.Itissignificantthatnotoneofthebishopscouldcallitin
question(Eadmer,HistoriaNovorum,lib.I).RegardingAnselm'sbeliefonthispointwe
maycitethefrankwordsofDeanHook:"AnselmwassimplyapapistHebelievedthat
St.PeterwasthePrinceoftheApostlesthatassuchhewasthesourceofall
ecclesiasticalauthorityandpowerthatthepopewashissuccessorandthatconsequently,
tothepopewasdue,fromthebishopsandmetropolitansaswellasfromtherestof
mankind,theobediencewhichaspiritualsuzerainhastherighttoexpectfromhisvassals"
[LivesoftheArchbishopsofCanterbury(London,18(i075),II,183].
WilliamnowsentenvoystoRometogetthepallium.TheyfoundUrbaninpossessionand
recognizedhim.Walter,BishopofAlbano,camebackwiththemaslegatebearingthe
pallium.TheKingpubliclyacknowledgedtheauthorityofUrban,andatfirstendeavoured
togetAnselmdeposedbythelegate.Eventuallyareconciliationwasoccasionedbythe
royaldifficultiesinWalesandinthenorth.TheKingandtheArchbishopmetinpeace.
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AnselmwouldnottakethepalliumfromtheKing'shandbutinasolemnserviceat
Canterburyon10June,1095itwaslaidonthealtarbythelegate,whenceAnselmtookit.
Freshtroublearosein1097.OnreturningfromhisineffectualWelshcampaignWilliam
broughtachargeagainsttheArchbishopinregardtothecontingenthehadfurnishedand
requiredhimtomeetthischargeintheKing'scourt.Anselmdeclinedandaskedleaveto
gotoRome.Thiswasrefused,butafterameetingatWinchesterAnselmwastoldtobe
readytosailintendays.OnpartingwiththeKing,theArchbishopgavehimhisblessing,
whichWilliamreceivedwithbowedhead.AtSt.Omer'sAnselmconfirmedamultitudeof
persons.ChristmaswasspentatCluny,andtherestofthewinteratLyons.Inthespring
heresumedhisjourneyandcrossedMontCeniswithtwocompanionsalltravellingas
simplemonks.Atthemonasteriesontheirwaytheywerefrequentlyaskedfornewsof
Anselm.OnhisarrivalinRomehewastreatedwithgreathonourbythePope.Hiscase
wasconsideredandlaidbeforethecouncil,butnothingcouldbedonebeyondsendinga
letterofremonstrancetoWilliam.DuringhisstayinItalyAnselmenjoyedthehospitality
oftheAbbotofTelese,andpassedthesummerinamountainvillagebelongingtothis
monastery.Herehefinishedhiswork,"CurDeusHomo",whichhehadbeguninEngland.
InOctober,1098,UrbanheldacouncilatBaritodealwiththedifficultiesraisedbythe
GreeksinregardtotheprocessionoftheHolyGhost.HereAnselmwascalledbythe
Popetoaplaceofhonourandbiddentotakethechiefpartinthediscussion.His
argumentswereafterwardscommittedtowritinginhistreatiseonthissubject.Hisown
casewasalsobroughtbeforethiscouncil,whichwouldhaveexcommunicatedWilliam
butforAnselm'sintercession.BothheandhiscompanionsnowdesiredtoreturntoLyons,
butwerebiddentoawaittheactionofanothercounciltobeheldintheLateranatEaster.
HereAnselmheardthecanonspassedagainstInvestitures,andthedecreeof
excommunicationagainsttheoffenders.Thisincidenthadadeepinfluenceonhiscareer
inEngland.
WhilestillstayingintheneighbourhoodofLyons,Anselmheardofthetragicdeathof
William.Soonmessagesfromthenewkingandchiefmenofthelandsummonedhimto
England.LandingatDover,hehastenedtoKingHenryatSalisbury.Hewaskindly
received,butthequestionofInvestitureswasatonceraisedinanacuteform.Henry
requiredtheArchbishophimselftoreceiveafreshinvestiture.Anselmallegedthedecrees
oftherecentRomancouncilanddeclaredthathehadnochoiceinthematter.The
difficultywaspostponed,astheKingdecidedtosendtoRometoaskforaspecial
exemption.Meanwhile,AnselmwasabletorendertheKingtwosignalservices.He
helpedtoremovetheobstacleinthewayofhismarriagewithEdith,theheiressofthe
Saxonkings.ThedaughterofSt.Margarethadsoughtshelterinaconvent,whereshehad
worntheveil,buthadtakennovows.Itwasthoughtbysomethatthiswasabarto
marriage,butAnselmhadthecaseconsideredinacouncilatLambethwheretheroyal
maiden'slibertywasfullyestablished,andtheArchbishophimselfgavehisblessingtothe
marriage.Moreover,whenRobertlandedatPortsmouthandmanyoftheNormannobles
werewaveringintheirallegiance,itwasAnselmwhoturnedthetideinfavourofHenry.
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InthemeantimePopePaschalhadrefusedtheKing'srequestforanexemptionfromthe
Laterandecrees,yetHenrypersistedinhisresolutiontocompelAnselmtoaccept
investitureathishands.TherevoltofRobertdeBellesmeputoffthethreatenedrupture.
TogaintimetheKingsentanotherembassytoRome.Onitsreturn,Anselmwasonce
morerequiredtoreceiveinvestiture.ThePope'sletterwasnotmadepublic,butitwas
reportedtobeofthesametenorashispreviousreply.Theenvoysnowgaveoutthatthe
PopehadorallyconsentedtotheKing'srequest,butcouldnotsaysoinwritingforfearof
offendingothersovereigns.FriendsofAnselmwhohadbeenatRome,disputedthis
assertion.InthiscrisisitwasagreedtosendtoRomeagainmeanwhiletheKingwould
continuetoinvestbishopsandabbots,butAnselmshouldnotberequiredtoconsecrate
them.
DuringthisintervalAnselmheldacouncilatWestminster.Herestringentcanonswere
passedagainsttheevilsoftheage.Inspiteofthecompromiseaboutinvestiture,Anselm
wasrequiredtoconsecratebishopsinvestedbytheKing,buthefirmlyrefused,anditsoon
becameevidentthathisfirmnesswastakingeffect.Bishopsgavebackthestafftheyhad
receivedattheroyalhands,orrefusedtobeconsecratedbyanotherindefianceofAnselm.
WhenthePope'sanswerarrived,repudiatingthestoryoftheenvoys,theKingasked
AnselmtogotoRomehimself.Thoughhecouldnotsupporttheroyalrequesthewas
willingtolaythefactsbeforethePope.Withthisunderstandingheoncemorebetook
himselftoRome.Therequestwasagainrefused,butHenrywasnotexcommunicated.
UnderstandingthatHenrydidnotwishtoreceivehiminEngland,Anselminterruptedhis
homewardjourneyatLyons.InthiscityhereceivedaletterfromthePopeinforminghim
oftheexcommunicationofthecounsellorswhohadadvisedtheKingtoinsiston
investitures,butnotdecreeinganythingabouttheKing.Anselmresumedhisjourney,and
onthewayheheardoftheillnessofHenry'ssister,AdelaofBlois.Heturnedasidetovisit
herandonherrecoveryinformedherthathewasreturningtoEnglandtoexcommunicate
herbrother.SheatonceexertedherselftobringaboutameetingbetweenAnselmand
Henry,inJuly,1105.Butthoughareconciliationwaseffected,andAnselmwasurgedto
returntoEngland,theclaimtoinvestwasnotrelinquished,andrecoursehadagaintobe
madetoRome.ApapalletterauthorizingAnselmtoabsolvefromcensuresincurredby
breakingthelawsagainstinvestitureshealedpastoffencesbutmadenoprovisionforthe
future.Atlength,inacouncilheldinLondonin1107,thequestionfoundasolution.The
Kingrelinquishedtheclaimtoinvestbishopsandabbots,whiletheChurchallowedthe
prelatestodohomagefortheirtemporalpossessions.Lingardandotherwritersconsider
thisatriumphfortheKing,sayingthathehadthesubstanceandabandonedamereform.
Butitwasfornomereformthatthislongwarhadbeenwaged.Theriteusedinthe
investiturewasthesymbolofarealpowerclaimedbytheEnglishkings,andnowatlast
abandoned.ThevictoryrestedwiththeArchbishop,andasSchwanesays
(Kirchenlexicon,s.v.)itpreparedthewayforthelatersolutionofthesamecontroversyin
Germany.Anselmwasallowedtoendhisdaysinpeace.Inthetwoyearsthatremainedhe
continuedhispastorallaboursandcomposedthelastofhiswritings.Eadmer,thefaithful
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chroniclerofthesecontentions,givesapleasingpictureofhispeacefuldeath.Thedream
ofhischildhoodwascometruehewastoclimbthemountainandtastethebreadof
Heaven.
HisactiveworkasapastorandstalwartchampionoftheChurchmakesAnselmoneofthe
chieffiguresinreligioushistory.Thesweetinfluenceofhisspiritualteachingwasfeltfar
andwide,anditsfruitswereseeninmanylands.HisstandforthefreedomoftheChurch
inacrisisofmedievalhistoryhadfarreachingeffectslongafterhisowntime.Asawriter
andathinkerhemayclaimyethigherrank,andhisinfluenceonthecourseofphilosophy
andCatholictheologywasevendeeperandmoreenduringifhestandsontheonehand
withGregoryVII,andInnocentIII,andThomasBecketontheotherhemayclaima
placebesideAthanasius,Augustine,andThomasAquinas.Hismeritsinthefieldof
theologyhavereceivedofficialrecognitionhehasbeendeclaredaDoctoroftheChurch
byClementXI,1720,andintheofficereadonhisfeastday(21April)itissaidthathis
worksareapatternforalltheologians.Yetitmaybedoubtedwhetherhispositionis
generallyappreciatedbystudentsofdivinity.Insomedegreehisworkhasbeenhiddenby
thefabricrearedonhisfoundations.Hisbookswerenotadopted,likethoseofPeter
LombardandSt.Thomas,astheusualtextofcommentatorsandlecturersintheology,nor
washeconstantlycitedasanauthority,likeSt.Augustine.Thiswasnaturalenough,since
inthenextcenturynewmethodscameinwiththeriseoftheArabicandAristotelean
philosophythe"BooksofSentences"wereinsomewaysmorefitforregulartheological
readingAnselmwasyettooneartohavethevenerableauthorityoftheearlyFathers.For
thesereasonsitmaybesaidthathiswritingswerenotproperlyappreciatedtilltimehad
broughtinotherchangesintheschools,andmenwereledtostudythehistoryoftheology.
Butthoughhisworksarenotcastinthesystematicformofthe"Summa"ofSt.Thomas,
theycoverthewholefieldofCatholicdoctrine.Therearefewpagesofourtheologythat
havenotbeenillustratedbythelaboursofAnselm.Histreatiseontheprocessionofthe
HolySpirithashelpedtoguidescholasticspeculationsontheTrinity,his"CurDeus
Homo"throwsafloodoflightonthetheologyoftheAtonement,andoneofhisworks
anticipatesmuchofthelatercontroversiesonFreeWillandPredestination.Inthe
seventeenthcentury,aSpanishBenedictine,Cardinald'Aguirremadethewritingsof
Anselmthegroundworkofacourseoftheology,"S.AnselmiTheologia"(Salamanca,
167881).Unfortunatelytheworknevergotbeyondthefirstthreefoliovolumes,
containingthecommentariesonthe"Monologium".InrecentyearsDomAnselm
csnyi,O.S.B.hasaccomplishedthetaskonamoremodestscaleinalittleLatinvolume
onthetheologyofSt.Anselm,"DeTheologiaS.Anselmi"(Brnn,1884).
Besidesbeingoneofthefathersofscholastictheology,Anselmfillsanimportantplacein
thehistoryofphilosophicspeculation.Cominginthefirstphaseofthecontroversyon
Universals,hehadtomeettheextremeNominalismofRoscelinpartlyfromthisfact,
partlyfromhisnativePlatonismhisRealismtookwhatmaybeconsideredasomewhat
extremeform.ItwastoosoontofindthegoldenmeanofmoderateRealism,acceptedby
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laterphilosophers.Hispositionwasastageintheprocessanditissignificantthatoneof
hisbiographers,JohnofSalisbury,wasamongthefirsttofindthetruesolution.
Anselm'schiefachievementinphilosophywastheontologicalargumentfortheexistence
ofGodputforthinhis"Proslogium".StartingfromthenotionthatGodis"thatthanwhich
nothinggreatercanbethought",hearguesthatwhatexistsinrealityisgreaterthanthat
whichisonlyinthemindwherefore,since"Godisthatthanwhichnothinggreatercanbe
thought",Heexistsinreality.Thevalidityoftheargumentwasdisputedattheoutsetbya
monknamedGaunilo,whowroteacriticismonittowhichAnselmreplied.Eadmertellsa
curiousstoryaboutSt.Anselm'sanxietywhilehewastryingtoworkoutthisargument.
Hecouldthinkofnothingelsefordaystogether.Andwhenatlasthesawitclearly,he
wasfilledwithjoy,andmadehastetocommitittowriting.Thewaxentabletsweregiven
inchargetooneofthemonksbutwhentheywerewantedtheyweremissing.Anselm
managedtorecalltheargument,itwaswrittenonfreshtabletsandgivenintosafer
keeping.ButwhenitwaswanteditwasfoundthatthewaxwasbrokentoPieces.Anselm
withsomedifficultyputthefragmentstogetherandhadthewholecopiedonparchment
forgreatersecurity.Thestorysoundslikeanallegoryofthefatewhichawaitedthis
famousargument,whichwaslostandfoundagain,pulledtopiecesandrestoredinthe
courseofcontroversy.RejectedbySt.Thomasandhisfollowers,itwasrevivedinanother
formbyDescartes.AfterbeingassailedbyKant,itwasdefendedbyHegel,forwhomit
hadapeculiarfascinationherecurstoitinmanypartsofhiswritings.Inoneplacehe
saysthatitisgenerallyusedbylaterphilosophers,"yetalwaysalongwiththeother
proofs,althoughitaloneisthetrueone"(GermanWorks,XII,547).Assailantsofthis
argumentshouldrememberthatallmindsarenotcastinonemould,anditiseasyto
understandhowsomecanfeeltheforceofargumentsthatarenotfeltbyothers.Butifthis
proofwereindeed,assomeconsiderit,anabsurdfallacy,howcoulditappealtosuch
mindsasthoseofAnselm,Descartes,andHegel?Itmaybewelltoaddthattheargument
wasnotrejectedbyallthegreatSchoolmen.ItwasacceptedbyAlexanderofHales
(Summa,Pt.I,Q.iii,memb.1,2),andsupportedbyScotus.(InI,Dist.ii,Q.ii.)In
moderntimesitisacceptedbyMhler,whoquotesHegel'sdefencewithapproval.
ItisnotoftenthataCatholicsaintwinstheadmirationofGermanphilosophersand
Englishhistorians.ButAnselmhasthissingulardistinctionHegel'sappreciationofhis
mentalpowersmaybematchedbyFreeman'swarmwordsofpraiseforthegreat
ArchbishopofCanterbury."Strangerashewas,hehaswonhisplaceamongthenoblest
worthiesofourisland.Itwassomethingtobethemodelofallecclesiasticalperfectionit
wassomethingtobethecreatorofthetheologyofChristendombutitwassomething
higherstilltobetheveryembodimentofrighteousnessandmercy,tobehandeddownin
theannalsofhumanityasthemanwhosavedthehuntedhareandstoodupforthe
holinessoflfheah"(HistoryoftheNormanConquest,IV,444).
CollectionsoftheworksofSt.Anselmwereissuedsoonaftertheinventionofprinting.
Ocsenyimentionsnineearlierthanthesixteenthcentury.Thefirstattemptatacritical
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editionwasthatofTh.Raynaud,S.J.*(Lyons,1630),whichrejectsmanyspuriousworks,
e.g.theCommentariesonSt.Paul.ThebesteditionsarethoseofDomGerberon,O.S.B.
(Paris,1675,1721Venice1744,Migne,1845).Mostofthemoreimportantworkshave
alsobeenissuedseparatelythusthe"Monologium"isincludedinHurter's"Opuscula
SS.Patrum"andpublishedwiththe"Proslogium"byHaas(Tbingen).Thereare
numerousseparateeditionsofthe"CurDeusHomo"andofAnselm's"Prayersand
Meditations"theselastweredoneintoEnglishbyArchbishopLaud(1638),andthereare
FrenchandGermanversionsofthe"meditationes"andthe"Monologium"."CurDeus
Homo"hasalsobeentranslatedintoEnglishandGermanseealsothetranslationsby
Deane(Chicago,1903).ForAnselm'sviewsoneducation,seeABBEYOFBEC.

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Sources
ThechiefsourcesforAnselm'slifearehisownlettersandthetwobiographicalworksof
hisfriend,disciple,andsecretary,Eadmer,monkofCanterbury,andBishopelectofSt.
Andrews.Eadmers'sHistoriaNonorummaybecalledthe"LifeandTimesofSt.Anselm"
hisVitaS.Anselmigivestheinnerlifeofthesaint.Also,thereisabriefaccountofthe
miraclesofSt.AnselmwhichisalsoascribedtoEadmer,butitsauthorshipisdoubtful.
OtherearlywritersonAnselm,suchasJohnofSalisbury,addsomenewdetails,buttheir
accountoftheSaintislargelydrawnfromEadmer.

Aboutthispage
APAcitation.Kent,W.(1907).St.Anselm.InTheCatholicEncyclopedia.NewYork:
RobertAppletonCompany.RetrievedJune6,2015fromNewAdvent:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01546a.htm
MLAcitation.Kent,William."St.Anselm."TheCatholicEncyclopedia.Vol.1.New
York:RobertAppletonCompany,1907.6Jun.2015
<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01546a.htm>.
Transcription.ThisarticlewastranscribedforNewAdventbyTomasHancilandJoseph
P.Thomas.
Ecclesiasticalapprobation.NihilObstat.March1,1907.RemyLafort,S.T.D.,Censor.
Imprimatur.+JohnCardinalFarley,ArchbishopofNewYork.
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Contactinformation.TheeditorofNewAdventisKevinKnight.Myemailaddressis
webmasteratnewadvent.org.Regrettably,Ican'treplytoeveryletter,butIgreatly
appreciateyourfeedbackespeciallynotificationsabouttypographicalerrorsand
inappropriateads.

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