Anselm of Canterbury

Date of Birth: April 1033

Zodiac Sign: Unknown

Date of Death: April 21, 1109

Biography

Anselm of Canterbury, also known as Saint Anselm, was an Italian Benedictine monk, philosopher, and prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to 1109. He is famous for his work in theology and philosophy, particularly for his ontological argument for the existence of God. Anselm was born in Aosta, in the Kingdom of Burgundy, around 1033. He entered the Benedictine abbey at Bec in Normandy in 1060, where he quickly rose to prominence as a scholar and teacher under the guidance of Lanfranc, the prior of Bec. Anselm’s most significant contributions to theology include his writings “Proslogion,” where he developed the ontological argument, and “Cur Deus Homo,” which explored the reasons for the Incarnation. His philosophical and theological works had a lasting impact on Christian thought, influencing later theologians like Thomas Aquinas. Anselm was canonized as a saint in 1494 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1720.

5 Interesting Facts about Anselm of Canterbury

1. Anselm is often referred to as the “Father of Scholasticism,” a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe.

2. He had a significant conflict with King William II of England over the independence of the church from royal authority.

3. Anselm’s ontological argument for the existence of God was one of the first philosophical arguments for God’s existence that did not rely on empirical evidence.

4. He was exiled twice from England due to his conflicts with the monarchy over ecclesiastical authority.

5. Anselm was canonized by Pope Clement XI in 1494, and his feast day is celebrated on April 21.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Anselm of Canterbury

1. “I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For I believe this: unless I believe, I will not understand.”

2. “God is that, the greater than which cannot be conceived.”

3. “Remove grace, and you have nothing whereby to be saved. Remove free will and you have nothing that could be saved.”

4. “For I seek not to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand.”

5. “Nor do I seek to understand so that I can believe, but I believe so that I may understand; for I believe this also, that ‘unless I believe, I shall not understand.’”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As a clergyman in the medieval period, Anselm of Canterbury did not accumulate personal wealth. His significance lies in his intellectual and spiritual contributions rather than material wealth.