ST ANSELM, BISHOP OF LUCCA, CONFESSOR

ST ANSELM, BISHOP OF LUCCA, CONFESSOR - 18 MARCH

SAINT ANSELM, BISHOP OF LUCCA, CONFESSOR

Saint Anselm was a native of Mantua, and was educated there in grammar and dialectic. Having entered himself among the clergy, he spent some time in the study of theology and the canon law, and laid that foundation of learning, which, joined with his natural genius and eminent virtue, qualified him to rise to the highest degree of excellence.

POPE ALEXANDER II NOMINATED HIM HIS SUCCESSOR IN THE SEE OF LUCCA

Anselm Badagius, a Milanese, bishop of Lucca, was chosen pope in 1061, and took the name of Alexander II. He nominated our saint his successor in the see of Lucca; and he took a journey into Germany to the emperor, Henry IV, but out of a scruple refused to receive the investiture of the bishopric from that prince, so that the pope was obliged to keep in his own hands the administration of the see of Lucca.

St Gregory VII, who succeeded Alexander II in 1073, ordered Anselm to receive the investiture from Henry. This compliance gave our saint such remorse, that he left his see, and took the monastic habit at Cluny. The pope obliged him to return to his bishopric, which he did.

HIS ZEAL SOON RAISED HIM ENEMIES

His zeal soon raised him enemies: by virtue of a decree of Pope Gregory IX he attempted to reform the canons of his cathedral, and to oblige them to live in community: this they obstinately refused to do, though they were interdicted by the pope, and afterwards excommunicated in a council, in which Peter Igneus, the famous bishop of Albano, presided in the name of his holiness.

HE WAS COUNTESS MAUD'S SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR

The holy countess Maud undertook to expel the refractory canons, but they raised a sedition, and, being supported by the emperor Henry, drove the bishop out of the city, in 1079. St Anselm retired to the countess Maud, whose director he was; for he was eminently experienced in the paths of an interior life, and, in the greatest hurry of business, he always reserved several hours in the day, which he consecrated to prayer, and attended only to God and himself. Whilst he studied or conversed with others, his heart was virtually united to God, and every object served as it were naturally to raise his affections afresh to his Creator.

APOSTOLIC LEGATE IN LOMBARDY

Pope Gregory suffered him not to bury himself in his retreat, but, during his exile, appointed him apostolic legate in Lombardy, charging him with the care of several dioceses in those parts, which, through the iniquity of the times, had continued long vacant.

SOME OF HIS WRITINGS

St Anselm wrote an apology for Gregory VII. in which he shows that it belongs not to temporal princes to give pastors to the church of Christ, and to confute the pretensions of the antipope, Guibert. In another work he proves, that temporal princes cannot dispose of the revenues of the church.

HIS HOLY DEATH

St Anselm died at Mantua, on March 18, 1086. His name occurs on this day in the Roman Martyrology, and he is honoured at Mantua as patron of that city. Baldus, his penitentiary, has written his life, in which he ascribes to him several miracles.

Source: Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints - 🎨 St Anselm by Francesco Bordani

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Anselm may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR 16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius ; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam , and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th...

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