Elected prior. 1063.
- self and of Archbishop Maurilius, he became a monk of
Bec, and, when Lanfranc became Abbot of Saint Stephen's, Anselm succeeded him in the office of prior.[1]
Stories of him as prior.
Elected Abbot. 1078.
This first preferment Anselm seems to have taken willingly.
A crowd of beautiful stories, setting forth his faith
towards God and his kindliness towards all men, belong
to this part of his career, the time when he was specially
employed in writing his theological works. We admire
the mixture of wisdom and kindness with which he reproved
the abbot of another house who complained that
the boys who were entrusted to his teaching got more
and more unruly, even though they were whipped day
and night.[2] We are tempted to feel a slight grudge when
he counsels a knight who seems to have been leading a
good and devout life in the world to embrace the monastic
calling.[3] Much as that age needed men like Anselm,
it still more needed men like Gulbert of Hugleville and
Helias of La Flèche. But we note with some interest
the comment of Eadmer, so curiously illustrating the
common rivalry between one monastery and another.
In such cases Anselm did not counsel profession at
Bec rather than in any other house, and this particular
convert took the cowl at Marmoutiers. At last,
on the death of Herlwin, the unanimous choice of the
convent called him to the place of abbot. His deep
reluctance to accept so great a charge was overcome
only by the express command of Archbishop Maurilius,
- [Footnote: aut nihil valere comprobabit. Itaque in tali loco perficiam quod dispono,
in quo et scire meum possim ostendere, et multis prodesse."]
- ↑ See N. C. vol. ii. p. 110. His election to the priorship is recorded in the Life, i. 2. 9. There is no mention of any such dislike to the promotion on Anselm's part as is recorded at his later election as abbot. The whole account of Anselm's monastic life, as given by Eadmer and followed by his modern biographers, is of the deepest interest. I have noticed only a few special points here and there.
- ↑ See the story in the Life, i. 4. 30.
- ↑ Ib. i. 4. 35. His name is given as Cadulus.
