De sancto Anselmo episcopo
The Early Life and Miracles of Anselm
Saint Anselm's early devotion and his miraculous intervention for a dying brother are recounted.
In the year of our Lord 1061, the glorious Archbishop of Canterbury, Saint Anselm, flourished. Born on the border of Lombardy and Burgundy, he was dedicated to his studies, learned quickly, and made such great progress that, before he had even turned fifteen, he was already pondering in his heart how he might better order his life according to God. After some time, he left his homeland, and when he became physically exhausted while crossing a mountain, the young man tried to restore his strength by eating. For there was nothing available there for him to eat. His attendant saw this and was distressed; he began to search diligently to see if by chance there was anything to eat in their bag, and soon, against all expectation, he found a very clean loaf of bread inside. Once he was refreshed and restored by this, and had returned safely to his journey and become a monk, he served the religious life with all his heart. For one of the older brothers, who had long harbored a deep hatred for Saint Anselm and could not look at him with a simple eye, was struck by illness and brought to the point of death. While the brothers were resting in their beds at midday as was their custom, he lay in the infirmary and began to let out piteous cries, as if trying to escape the sight of some horrible things, turning pale and trembling, and hiding his face this way and that. The brothers who were present were terrified and asked what was wrong with him. But he said, "Don't you see two huge wolves holding me crushed in their arms and suffocating me, their teeth pressed into my throat? And you ask what is wrong with me?" When they heard this, one of them hurried to Saint Anselm and told him everything. Then Anselm withdrew to a more private place for prayer, and afterward went to the house where the sick man was; he raised his hand, made the sign of the cross, and said, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
Signs of Grace and Theological Wisdom
Anselm's ministry continues through further miracles and the profound theological and prayerful works he authored.
At this, the sick man immediately grew calm, and with a brightened face and the deepest affection of his heart, he began to give thanks to God and to blessed Anselm for driving away the evil spirits; and then, with his paternal authority, he finally gave him absolution and said that at the hour when the brothers rose for the morning office, he would depart from this present life, which is exactly what happened. One day, while he was on the road, a short monk happened to meet him and asked for advice on where he might find lodging. The monk replied, "We have lodging not far from here." "But there is nothing to set before us and the brothers except bread and cheese." The other smiled and said, "Don't be afraid, good man. Go ahead quickly, and once you've cast your net into the nearby stream, you'll immediately find a fish that will be enough for all of us." Having received this command, he flew ahead and told the fisherman—who had been more inclined to laugh at what he said than to test it—and finally, urged on by the brother, he cast his net against all expectation and immediately caught a trout of unusual size along with another small fish. The glorious Anselm wrote the Monologion, the Soliloquium, and works on the Holy Trinity, truth, the procession of the Holy Spirit, the fall of the devil, original sin, the incarnation of the Word, why God became man, and many other very devout books. Most especially, he wrote this prayer: "My life terrifies me, for when I examine it carefully, it appears to me as either sin or a barren, fruitless thing; and if any fruit is found in it, it is either feigned, imperfect, or corrupted in some way. What remains for me, then, but to weep over my whole life throughout my whole life!" I am certain of myself, because my sins deserve eternal damnation; I am more certain that my penance is not enough to make satisfaction; and I am most certain that your mercy surpasses every offense. Therefore, Lord, show me mercy and grant me, by your grace, the remission of all my sins, because my merit is your mercy, O Lord God. Regarding the invocation of the Son, he says: "Lord Jesus Christ, my redemption, my mercy, my salvation, I praise you, I give you thanks, though I am far unequal to your benefits, and far lacking in worthy devotion; but as best I can, my soul pays you back," etc.
A Life of Holy Rest
The chapter concludes with the peaceful passing of Saint Anselm into eternal rest.
After a life worthy of praise, he entered into true rest by the grace of the Lord, to whom belongs honor and praise forever and ever. Amen.
Read the original Latin
Anno domini millesimo LXI floruit gloriosus archiepiscopus Cantuariensis sanctus Anselhnus. Hio fuit ex confinio Longobardiae et Burgundiae oriundus ; litteris traditus didicit et in brevi mnltum profecit, necdum XV aetatis suae annum contigerat, cum jam, qualiter vitan suam secundum Deum instituere posset melius, mente tractabat. Expleto autem aliquo tempore patriam egressus, cum in transcensu montis cujusdam fatigatus corpore deficeret, vires suas juvenis mandendo reparare tentabat. Neqne enim tunc illuc, quo vesceretur, praesto erat. Ouod minister ejus videns doluit, et ne forte quid edendum in sacculo eorum haberetur, diligenter investigare coepit et mox contra spem in eo nitidissimum invenit panem. Quo illo refectus et recreatus est et viae incolumis redonatus et factus monachus religioni per oimia serviebat, Quidam enim ex antiquioribus fratribus, qui vetere odio plurimum erat infestus beato Anselmo mec poterat emn ullatenus respicere, simplici oculo infirmitate pressus ad extrema est deductus, Cumque fratres in meridie in lectis ex more quiescerent, ipse in domo infirmorum jacens coepit miserandas voces emittere el quasi quorundam horrendorum adspectwm subterfugere, pallens et tremens vultum suum delitescendo hine inde comunutare, Territi fratres, qui aderant, quid haberet, quaerebant. At ille: geminos immanes lupos inter brachia sua me tenere compressum et guttur meum impressis dentibus jamjam suffocare videtis, et quid mihi sit, quaeritis? Quo audito quidam ex iis ad beatum Anselmum concitus perrexit et ei singula patefecit, Tunc ille in secretiorem locum orationis secedens et post ad domum, in qua infirmus erat, ingrediens levata manu signum crucis edidit dicens: in nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancli.
Ad qnod factum statim aeger cómquievit et exhilarato vultu intimno cordis affectu Deo gratias agere coepit et beato Anselmo, quia malignos spiritus expulit, Et inde monuit paterna demum auctoritate absolutum, et dixit, hora, qua fratres surgerent ad monas, praesenti vita decessurum, Quod et factum est. Quadam die, cum esset in via, occurrente sibi quodam monacho brevi, quid consilii de hospitio sibi ferret, interrogavit, Qui respondit: habemus non longe hospitium,. sed mon est, quod nobis et fratribus apponatur praeter panem et caseum, At ille subridens ait: ne timeas vir bone, sed cito praecede et misso rete in vicinum amnem statim invenies piscem, qui sufficiet omnibus nobis. Ille mandato accepto praevolans nuntiat piscatori, qui ad ridendum potius, quam ad tentandum, quod dicebat, fore praenuntians tandem a fratre coactus contra spem rete jecit et illico truytam insolitae magnitudinis cum quodam alio pisciculo cepit. Scripsit gloriosus Anselinus monologiumn, item soliloquiun, de sancta trinitate, de veritate, de processione spiritus sancti, de casu dyaboli, de peccato originali, de incarnatione verbi, cur Deus homo, et multos alios libros devotissinos, et potissime hanc orationem; terret me vita mea, nam diligenter discussa apparet mihi aut peccatum aut sterilitas velut infructuosa, et si quis fructus in ea invenitur, aut est simulatus aut imperfectus aut aliquo modo corruptus, Quid ergo restat mihi, nisi ut in tola vita inea plorem totam vitam meam! Certus sum de me, quia peccata inea merentur aelernam damnationem, certior, quin poenitentia mea non sufficit ad satisfactionem, certissimus, quia misericordia tua superat omnem offensionem. Fac ergo, domine, mecum misericordiam et concede inihi ex gratia tua omnium peccatorum meorum remissionem, quia meritum menm misericordia est, o domine Deus. De invocatione filii sic ait: domine Jesu Christe redeintio mea, misericordia mea, salus mea, te laudo, tibi gratias ago quamvis multum impares tuis beneficiis, quamvis multum expertes dignae devotionis, sed sicut potest conari, tibi persolvit anima mena etc.
Postque laudabilem vitam introivit ad veram requiem praestante domino, cui est honor et laus in secula seculorum. Amen.
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