Being Anselmian

St. Anselm de Bec was a Giant among the thinkers of the medieval Church, He lived a long life spanning most of the 11th century, 1033-1109. One of the 35 declared Doctors of the Church, he was abbot of the Benedictine Monastery of Bec and later, Archbishop of Canterbury; his writings shed light on our understanding of God. His motto, "Faith seeking understanding" indicates, as one writer put it, that "he did theology on his knees."  As much as he is revered for his intellectual contributions to theology and philosophy, he is a saint because of his prayerfulness, compassion and love-in-action.
Last evening at St. Anselm College, in Manchester, NH, the legacy of St. Anselm was vividly evident in an awards ceremony honoring 13 students for their living out of the Anselmian ideal of faith-filled service and leadership.  The accomplishments of these students is jaw-dropping and raising the question how they could accomplish so much and still be so academically superior. It was inspiring to see so many young people dedicated to their faith and accomplishing outstanding achievements in service to the disabled, the poor, and the rejected.  There is no need to worry about the future as young adults such as these infiltrate our world.  Like Anselm, they are beacons of light and hope.
Bro. Rene