Saint Anselm of Canterbury was born in 1033 in Aosta, Italy and was pious and liked to study and at 15 he wanted to enter religious life, but his father prevented it, so he became worldly for the next several years. After his mother died, Anselm argued with his father and he fled to France in 1056 and became a Benedictine monk in Normandy in 1060. He became prior of the house in 1063 and abbot of the house 1078.
He traveled frequently to Normandy and England and Anselm was in much contact with Church officials in England. He was chosen as reluctant Archbishop of Canterbury, England 1092. As bishop he fought King William Rufus' encroachment on ecclesiastical rights and independence of the Church, refused to pay bribes, and was exiled. He traveled to Rome and spend his time of exile as advisor to Pope Blessed Urban II. In 1100 King Henry II invited Anselm back to England, but they disputed and he was exiled again and returned in 1106 when the King agreed not to interfere with the selection of Church officials.
Anselm opposed slavery and supposed celibate clergy and approved the addition of several saints to the liturgical calendar of England. He was a great philosopher and theologian of the Middle Ages. He became counsellor to Pope Gregory VII and was chosen as a Doctor of the Church in 1720 by Pope Clement XI. He died on Holy Wednesday, April 21, 1109 in Canterbury. He was canonized in 1492.
"O, Lord, through your Son you command us, no, you counsel us to ask, and you promise that you will hear us so that our joy may be complete. Give me then what you promise to give through your Truth."
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