Tuesday, April 21, 2015

St. Anselm — the "Father of Scholasticism"

ST. ANSELM

"As prior and abbot, Anselm made the Benedictine monastery of Bec the center of a true reformation in Normandy and England. From this monastery he exercised a restraining influence on popes, kings, the worldly great, and entire religious orders. Raised to the dignity of Archbishop of Canterbury and primate of England, he waged a heroic campaign in defense of the rights and liberties of the Church. As a result he was deprived of goods and position and finally banned from the country. He journeyed to Rome, and at the Council of Bari supported Pope Urban II against the errors of the Greeks. His writings bear eloquent testimony to his moral stature and learning, and have earned for him the title of "Father of Scholasticism"."

—from The Church's Year of Grace, by Pius Parsch.


Meditations of St. Anselm, by English Miniaturist. 
12th century Manuscript (Ms. Auct. D.2.6); Bodleian Library, Oxford.

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