27
Biography of St. Anselm
St. Anselm of Canterbury, also known as Anselm of Aosta, was born in 1033 in Aosta, in present-day Italy. He is one of the most significant figures in medieval Christian philosophy and theology, best known for his ontological argument for the existence of God and his contributions to the development of scholasticism.
Anselm entered the Benedictine monastery of Bec in Normandy, France, at a young age. There, under the guidance of Lanfranc, the prior of the monastery, he pursued his studies in theology and philosophy. Anselm’s intellectual prowess and piety soon became evident, leading to his appointment as the prior of Bec in 1063.
In his writings, Anselm sought to reconcile faith with reason and to provide rational explanations for theological doctrines. His most famous work, Proslogion, published in 1077, contains his ontological argument, which aims to prove the existence of God through the concept of a being “than which nothing greater can be conceived.”
Anselm became the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1093. As archbishop, he was known for his reform efforts and his defense of the rights of the church against secular interference. He engaged in debates with other intellectuals of his time, including the Jewish philosopher Moses ben Maimon (Maimonides), and wrote extensively on theological and philosophical topics.
One of Anselm’s notable contributions is his theory of atonement known as the “satisfaction theory.” According to this theory, Christ’s sacrificial death satisfies divine justice and reconciles humanity with God. This idea had a profound impact on medieval theology and influenced later thinkers such as Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin.
Anselm’s writings and ideas greatly influenced the development of scholasticism, a medieval intellectual movement that sought to reconcile faith and reason through systematic philosophical and theological inquiry. His method of dialectic reasoning, known as the “scholastic method,” became a hallmark of scholastic thought.
St. Anselm passed away on April 21, 1109, in Canterbury, England. His contributions to theology, philosophy, and the integration of reason and faith continue to be studied and debated to this day. He was recognized as a Doctor of the Church in 1720 and remains a highly respected figure in Christian intellectual history.
Proslogion
Chapter II
Truly there is a God, although the fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
And so, Lord, do thou, who dost give understanding to faith, give me, so far as thou knowest it to be profitable, to understand that thou art as we believe; and that thou art that which we believe. And indeed, we believe that thou art a being than which nothing greater can be conceived. Or is there no such nature, since the fool hath said in his heart, there is no God? (Psalms xiv. 1). But, at any rate, this very fool, when he hears of this being of which I speak—a being than which nothing greater can be conceived—understands what he hears, and w