50. To The Monk Henry.
The Letters of St. Anselm
obey. I learned in a Christian school—and what I hold, I declare while maintaining and I love while declaring—that if anyone of those who possess wealth in this world1 gives a poor man even a cup of cold water for the true love of God and his neighbor, he is giving alms and he will not lose his reward.2 Indeed as to the fasting of monks, I hold this opin ion, that the more a monk abstains from the food put in front of him for the greater love of God or of his neighbor, the greater are the alms he gives and the greater the reward he gains.3 c. 1074/75.
NOTES 1. 1 Jn 3:17.
2. Mt 10:42.
3. Anselm relaxed the rigor of fasting. Eadmer defended this as being a sign of strength when done reasonably, see VA, 59-60.
50. TO THE MONK HENRY.
Anselm assures Henry at Christ Church, Canterbury, of their mutual, brother ly love, apologizes for his infrequent letters, blaming his sins and the turmoil of necessary activities, and begs for his vigorous support.
TO HIS FELLOW-MONK, FRIEND AND DEAREST BROTHER, HENRY:
BROTHER ANSELM, WISHING A PROSPEROUS DURATION IN THIS
LIFE AND BLISSFUL ETERNITY IN THE LIFE TO COME.
ALTHOUGH TRUE LOVE, ONCE KINDLED, will forever go on burning without being continually fanned, no small pleasure is gained from it by friends either through mutual conversations when they are together or by the frequency of other reminders when they are apart. Since, therefore, by the arrangement of divine providence, we cannot take pleasure in seeing one another, at least we should derive happiness from each other by exchanging greetings—even
The Letters of St. Anselm if this is not as much as we want, at least it is as much as we can.
Wherefore, if I were permitted to write as often as I wish I would send a note to you, and expect yours to me, much more frequently. Because of my sins, in fact, I see this opportunity, not only of writing but also of reading, meditat ing, or even praying, being removed from me until I think the mercy of God is being withdrawn from me. For this I suffer inconsolably, but even this is not enough to bring back God's grace because, as it is such an obstacle to the tranquility of the wretch I am, no benefit comes from my turmoil to console me. Under these circumstances it does not appear unjust to me to call these activities—which I dare not, however, neglect—useless and unproductive, and yet, if I examine my situation closely, I can in no way excuse my laziness. Indeed my useless mind seems to be con strained by nature into narrow limits and weakened by the feebleness of my good will, so that the whole of it is not enough to perform any one of the smallest matters, not to mention the others, and it surrenders, vanquished under the weight of some burden or temptation.1
Wherefore, my dearest brother and fellow monk, since out of charity I wish my merits, if any there be, to be yours and I trust that your merits will be mine—despairing of my laziness, I beg and implore your vigorous support. Because of my failure to make much progress I feel I should be con demned; through your unfailing progress I hope to deserve to be saved.
May your fraternity, so dear to me, prosper, now and forever. c. 1075.
NOTES 1. Anselm seems to refer to the growing burden of his office as prior as the feebleness of old age incapacitated Abbot Herluin more and more. Herluin died on 26 August 1078, aged 74.