Our Patron St. Anselm | St. Anselm's Sr. Sec. School, Ajmer

Our Patron

St. Anselm

St. Anselm came from a noble Lombard family and was born in Aosta in the Italian Alps. His mother was a good and pious Burgundian woman, but after her death, his father's violence and harshness finally caused Anselm to flee to France.

After several years of wandering, he took the Benedictine habit in 1060 at Bec in Normandy, where his illustrious countryman Blessed Lanfranc had started the famous school. Anselm soon became outstanding for his learning.

Within three years, he was made Prior and, after another fifteen years, Abbot—despite his reluctance.

Scholar, leader, and defender of principle

As Abbot, St. Anselm crossed to England from time to time in connection with his abbey's English properties. There he became known and highly esteemed for his virtues and fearless zeal. In 1099, he was made Archbishop of Canterbury in the hope that he would be able to cope with the encroachments of King William the Red.

Gentle and self-effacing by nature, St. Anselm was unyielding on matters of principle. A man of fearless zeal, he strongly denounced the slave trade and staunchly defended the Filioque—“and from the Son”—the doctrine that the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father and the Son.

An enduring legacy

Many important writings of this gentle prelate, regarded as the greatest intellectual of his age and a pattern for all theologians, were composed during his two banishments. They earned him the titles “Father of Scholasticism” and “Doctor of the Universal Church” in 1720, recognising the deep and lasting influence of his thought on philosophy and theology.