52. To Abbot G.
The Letters of St. Anselm
NOTES 1. Together with Henry (see Ep 50), they were monks of Bee, who either followed Lanfranc to Canterbury via Caen or were called there by him.
According to AOO, III: 164, Epp 49 and 50 were sent to Canterbury with this letter.
2. Maurice.
3. Archbishop Lanfranc.
4. Mt 20:16, 22:14.
5. The reflections on Mt 20:16 recall Ep 2.
6. Anselm was about forty-two when he wrote this, but his health was probably weakened by his austere way of life; see VA, 14, 15. He lived to be seventy-six.
52. TO ABBOT G.
Anselm advises Abbot William Bona Anima of Caen how to deal with Hemost, bishop-elect of Rochester who wants to shun the burden of office. The electors, however, should force him to accept. In this procedure the elect may perceive the will of God.
TO HIS LORD AND DEAREST FATHER, THE REVEREND ABBOT G.:
BROTHER ANSELM, WISHING THAT HE MAY ALWAYS WANT AND DO
WHAT IS PLEASING TO GOD.
YOUR WISDOM DEIGNED TO ASK the advice of my hum ble self about the matter in question1. First of all, therefore,
I pray for the benevolent clemency of almighty God, that he may dispose the whole affair according to his good will.
This however is our advice—may it come from the coun tenance of God!2—which is the best I can conceive. Indeed
I advise him that, while maintaining obedience and holy gentleness, his soul shun such a burden as far as it can; you, however, and the others to whom it applies—because I do not see that there can be anything better for him—I advise that you enjoin him by begging and admonishing; in this way his conscience may be more untroubled in God's sight once he perceives he has been moved along by the fear of God alone and by holy obedience; and may God lead him to a good end, as it were, by obligation, for which alone