Daily Archives: November 24, 2024

St. Anselm

Feast dayApril 21
Birth 1033
Death 1109

St. Anselm of Canterbury (1033/34 – 1109) was an Italian-born Benedictine monk, abbot, philosopher, and theologian who became the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to 1109. He is often called the father of Scholasticism, a philosophical and theological movement that sought to reconcile faith and reason.

Key Highlights of His Life
Early Life: Anselm was born in Aosta, Italy, and initially pursued a career in politics. However, he felt a strong calling to monastic life and eventually joined the Benedictine monastery at Bec in Normandy, France.

Philosophical Contributions: Anselm is best known for his ontological argument for the existence of God, which he presented in his work “Proslogion.” He argued that God, being the greatest conceivable being, must exist in reality because existence is a necessary condition of being the greatest.

Theological Works: Anselm also wrote “Cur Deus Homo” (Why God Became Man), where he developed the satisfaction theory of atonement, explaining how Christ’s sacrifice reconciles humanity with God.

Archbishop of Canterbury: Anselm was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury and worked to defend the church’s interests in England, often clashing with the English kings over issues of church authority and investiture.

Legacy: Anselm’s works have had a lasting impact on Christian theology and philosophy. He was canonized in 1494 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1720.


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Bible readings

Daily mass readings for Dec 2, 2024

Daily mass readings : Monday of the First Week of Advent

Reading 1 : Is 2:1-5

This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,
saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In days to come,
The mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
That he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.”
For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
One nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.

O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the LORD!


Responsorial Psalm : Ps 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my relatives and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.


Alleluia : See Ps 80:4

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come and save us, LORD our God;
Let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel : Mt 8:5-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum,
a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,
“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”
He said to him, “I will come and cure him.”
The centurion said in reply,
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word and my servant will be healed.
For I too am a man subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes;
and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes;
and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
“Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”


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