Nine Things You Almost Certainly Didn’t Know About St Anselm
And a BONUS explanation of his most enduring legacy
Hold on to your hats, folks — because we’re about to take a wild ride through ecclesiastical history with one of the most fascinating figures you’ve probably never heard of — St. Anselm.
This 11th-century theologian and Archbishop may be long gone, but his legacy lives on. Here are NINE things you need to know about this epic figure:
1. Anselm was one of the most celebrated thinkers of his time. He was born into an aristocratic family in a small town in Upper Burgundy in 1033, although he was never one to boast about his birthright. Instead, he was known for his remarkable humility and devotion to God.
2. Anselm’s love for learning and prayer led him to join the Benedictine monastery, the Abbey of Bec, in Northern France. Here, he honed his intellectual prowess, quickly becoming renowned for his scholarly pursuits. As he climbed the ranks to become prior, he wrote some of his most influential works, transforming the Abbey into the preeminent centre of education in Europe, attracting students from near and far.
3. Anselm’s insatiable thirst for knowledge led him to England, where he continued to write and engage in theological debates. His contributions to…
