About Catholic Patron Siant Anselm of Canterbury

Copyright (c) 2011 Beverly Johnson

Saint Anselm of Canterbury was given the title, "Father of Scholasticism" because of his great philosophical writings. Saint Anselm's works set out to prove the existence of God. He is considered a great religious philosopher, as well as a noted academic in metaphysics and ethics during the eleventh century. Life of Saint Anselm of Canterbury

Saint Anselm was born in 1033 in Aosta, Burgundy. His parents, Gundulf de Candia and Ermenberga of Geneva named him Anselmo d'Aosta. His family's wealth was waning but they were still considered nobility. Saint Anselm's mother died when he was 23 years old and after an argument with his father, Anselm moved out of the family homestead. Saint Anselm traveled the countryside for a few years and then decided to enter the Benedictine monastery Normandy in 1060. He hoped of to earn and education and become a scholar. Saint Anselm named Archbishop of Canterbury

After only three years, Saint Anselm was named prior of the monastery and in 1078, he was elevated to abbot. He remained the abbot of the Benedictine monastery in Bec, Normandy until he was elected the archbishop of Canterbury in 1093. Works of Saint Anselm of Canterbury

During St. Anselm's ministry in the monastery, he wrote many of his noted philosophical works:

† Monologion, Proslogion

† De grammatico

† De veritate

† De libertate arbitrii

† De casu Diaboli

When St. Anselm served as the Archbishop of Canterbury, he continued his writings about God's existence. His works on the power of the royalty brought him disfavor with King Rufus and King Henry. Saint Anselm of Canterbury's writings at this time were:

† De incarnation Verbi

† Cur Deus homo

† De conceptu Virginali

† De processione Spiritus Sancti

† De concordia

Saint Anselm of Canterbury Quotes

St. Anselm quotes taken from Proslogion, Chapter 2:

† "a single argument that needed nothing but itself alone for proof, that would by itself be enough to show that God really exists; that he is the supreme good, who depends on nothing else, but on whom all things depend for their being and for their well-being; and whatever we believe about the divine nature."(from the Preface)

† "Therefore, Lord, You Who give understanding to faith, give me understanding to the extent You know to be appropriate: that You are as we believe, and You are that which we believe."

Saint Anselm of Canterbury Today

Saint Anselm of Canterbury spent his life proving that God exists in this world. Many Christians wear a Saint Anselm of Canterbury medal or a Saint Anselm pendant as a reminder of St. Anselm's words that God exists for all people and to have faith that He is with them always.


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Beverly Johnson Roberts, founder of Patriotic-Jewelry.com, is a goldsmith who graduated from FIT in New York City with a degree in jewelry design. She specializes in Catholic jewelry-See some pieces devoted to St Anselm of Canterbury