45. To Frodelina.
The Letters of St. Anselm
2. Mt 25:36, 40.
3. See Ep 36.
4. Anselm's deliberation and decision to become a monk are described by Eadmer in VA, 8-11.
5. 1 Jn 2:16.
6. 1 Jn 2:17.
7. Jm 4:4.
8. Mt 19:29.
9. 1 Jn 2:15.
45. TO FRODELINA.
Anselm demonstrates how Frodelina and he seek each other's love and share in each other's merits.
TO THE EXCELLENT LADY FRODELINA1 WHOSE HOLINESS DESERVES
TO BE REVERED WITH LOVE AND LOVED WITH REVERENCE:
BROTHER ANSELM OF BEC, A SINNER IN LIFE, A MONK BY HABIT, A
SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS AND HANDMAIDENS OF GOD,
WISHING CONTINUAL INCREASE OF HOLINESS IN THE PRESENT LIFE
AND ETERNAL JOY IN THE LIFE TO COME.
EVER SINCE I BECAME AWARE of the odor of your good reputation which has spread far and wide like a sweet per fume, I have longed to make myself known to you at some favorable opportunity, that I might deserve through this ac quaintanceship to gain your friendship. But since I see myself totally lacking in merit perhaps I might somehow share yours by a communion of charity. So I thank God that, while I was harboring this wish and was eagerly look ing for a way of executing it, Dom Hugh, the hermit of Caen,2 our mutual brother and friend in Christ, informed me that your holiness, with sentiments not unlike my own, was looking for a similar opportunity in my regard. Now
I have discovered this and, having discovered it, I rejoice in Christ over our desire, which he knows to be born out of love for him; for he listened to us without our knowledge and joined us by like vows and the selfsame love, also without our knowing. Without fearing reproach for being
The Letters of St. Anselm presumptuous, therefore, I send you my letter with the con fidence of our mutual love.
Indeed, my most beloved lady—I say 'lady' and 'most be loved' because you are most outstanding in the merits of your life—I know that you will find in me very little or noth ing which could be expected to increase your sanctity. Yet since I desire to share in your good qualities which are great er than mine, I do not know on what pretext I can refuse to let you share, as you desire, in mine, whatever they may be. For indeed, if our Lord Jesus Christ has worked any good in me or will do in the future, I pray according to the true love of God and my neighbor that he may also grant that you not be treated any differently than I am. Moreover, even if my merits can in no way be compared to yours, I beg that your holiness rqay deign to admit me in some way to the communion of your merits for the sake of that same charity.
Although your mind, fervently inflamed by the Holy Spirit, is certainly in no need of it, yet by the demands of my profession I ought to write some exhortation to your holiness—and I would do so did I not fear my letter run ning on too long. May God grant that I one day pay this debt either by speaking to you personally or by writing. May the almighty Lord protect you, lady greatly to be loved and revered in Christ, from all evil in this life, that after this life he may put you in possession of eternal riches. May he him self make us so mindful one of another in his love, you of me and I of you, that it may please him and advance us towards eternal life. Amen. c. 1074/75.
NOTES 1. This is one of the few letters in Anselm's collection written to a woman. According to McGuire ('Love, friendship and sex', 143-146)
Anselm showed cordiality towards women, but not the same warmth as to many of his male correspondents. Frodelina is not otherwise known. Apparently she was a woman of some social status and en joyed a reputation for holiness in Normandy.
2. Anselm addresses Ep 112 to Hugh, the hermit of Caen.