21st April, St Anselm, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor

St Anselm, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor

A native of Aosta (Italy) and a monk of the abbey of Bec in Normandy, St. Anselm became its abbot and later archbishop of Canterbury (Communion). "Filled with divine wisdom " (Introit) and endowed with superior talents, he endeavoured to develop the science of God by a rational method which cleared the way for scholastic theologians. "I do not try to understand in order to believe, he declared, but I believe in order to understand." Thereby he realized the saying of the Gospel "You are the light of the world" and the Church has awarded him the title of Doctor.

"A hero for doctrine and virtue," declares Urban II, "he was equally intrepid in fighting for the faith." Like a courageous pastor, he defended "in season and out of season," (Epistle) against the ambitious tyranny of William Rufus, the sacred liberty which Jesus had bought for His flock with His blood. "Christ, he affirms, loves nothing so much in this world as the liberty of His Church."

He died at the age of 73 on April 21st, 1109.

Let us honour St. Anselm "so that he who was a Doctor of truth on earth may intercede for us in heaven" (Collect).

In medio Ecclesiae aperuit os ejus: et implevit eum Dominus spiritu sapientiae et intellectus: stolam gloriae induit eum. * Bonum est confiteri Domino: et psallere nomini tuo, Altissime.
In the midst of the Church the Lord opened his mouth: and He filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding: He clothed him with a robe of glory. * It is good to give praise to the Lord: and to sing to Thy name, O most High.
(Ecclesiasticus 15:5 and Psalm 91:2 from the Introit of Mass)

O God, who didst give unto Thy people blessed Anselm to be a minister of eternal salvation: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be worthy to have as an intercessor in heaven him, whom we have had as teacher of life on earth.
(Collect)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01546a.htm