ANSELM OF CANTERBURY: THE FATHER OF SCHOLASTICISM

Anselm of Canterbury (Saint). Orationes S. Anselmi archiepiscopi Cantuariensis Ordinis Sancti Benedicti, doctoris Theodidacti & sapientissimi: quibus mentes illustrantur, & corda accenduntur ad Deum quaerendum & amandum: olim in Galliis erutae ex variis & antiquis mss. cura, & studio Monachorum Congregationis S. Mauri, & Parisiis primum, postea vero Romae ab em. card. Josepho de Aguirre editae, nunc demum ad Romanum exemplar recussae. Verona: Tumermann, 1726.

12mo, full roan calf, five raised bands spine with gilt decorations to compartments, gilt spine title within leather label, red sprinkled edges, handcoloured fly-leaves, pp. [6], III-XII, 312, [2].

Very scarce pocket size edition of the Orations of St. Anselm of Canterbury, published in the year he was named Doctor of the Church.

Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) was born in Aosta, in Piedmont. After study in Burgundy and France, he entered the Benedictine order and became prior and later abbot of Bec. He succeeded his teacher Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury in 1093. A much admired theologian and philosopher who has been called the father of scholasticism, Anselm is best known his ontological argument for the existence of God, advanced in his Proslogion (1077-78). He stood strongly against anti-intellectualism, insisting that rational analysis of the Christian faith did not necessarily lead to scepticism. Instead, he believed that intelligent study and discussion led to a better understanding of that faith and could make it stronger. He was canonized in 1494 and named Doctor of the Church in 1726.

References: IT\ICCU\VEAE\127511 (only 3 copies). OCLC apparently locates no copy in USA.

A good copy, in its contemporary full calf binding.