In the line of thinkers in the medieval Church, St. Anselm stands as a giant, but he is a saint because his love for others was even greater than his intellect.

He was born in 1033 in what is now northern Italy. As an adolescent, he wanted to enter the monastery, but was too young, so he wandered in his faith for a time. Later, as a well-educated young man, he heard about a famous abbot who was teaching at a monastery in Normandy, and he joined the community there at the age of 27.

Anselm quickly rose into leadership positions in the community at the monastery, and his brother monks grumbled about his promotions because of his youth. But Anselm was patient and gentle, which won over all of them—even an obstinate young monk who was set on living outside of the monastic discipline. Anselm shepherded the young monk with tenderness, and brought him around to greater faithfulness, even nursing him when he fell ill and died.

Anselm was a monumental thinker—he was known as the greatest theologian of his age. Not since Augustine had the Church such a mind at her disposal. He is known as the father of Scholasticism, a critical mode of thought from the medieval age that gave rise to the university system. Anselm wrote about the existence and nature of God, truth, free will, the origins of evil, reason, and Jesus’ Incarnation.

In 1078, Anselm was elected abbot of the monastery, and soon after was named archbishop of Canterbury. In that position he ran into continuous conflicts with several successive kings of England over rights and revenues. They wanted to claim the stream of resources that came from monasteries, and Anselm took his opposition to the pope on several occasions. Anselm unflinchingly fought to better the clergy and hold to Church disciplines.

Anselm was known for his charity towards all, and especially towards the poor. People who met him remarked on his sincerity and compassion. He was the first to take a stand against the slave trade, passing a resolution against the selling of people like cattle.

Anslem died of old age in 1109, and was declared a doctor of the Church, a title given to 37 saints who are known for elucidating the faith by their words or example. His relics rest in the reliquary chapel on campus, and his image is used here with permission from Catholic.org.

St. Anselm, you who deepened our understanding of God and enacted that knowledge in love, pray for us!