Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

1H6
ST. ANSELM
grasp the crosier which the nobles of England thrust
into his hands. What is the value of a repentance
which is only prompted by fear of death, and be-
comes an empty word as soon as that fear is removed
It is undoubtedly true that the king spoke
his real and his better mind in his sickness. Under
ordinary circumstances, he did not want a lord and
father in God. In his usual health he would have
suffered Canterbury to be vacant as long as his
crown was not endangered by so doing, and then he
would probably have contrived the appointment of a
mere tool or creature who would have carried out his
greedy-I will not say royal-behests. Anselm
viewed the proceedings in the sick room as informal. T
Nevertheless, king and kingdom had made a spontaneous
choice which required only the confirmation
of the Holy See to ratify it. In the meantime,
William wras restored to health of the body, and with
it ceased to care for the health of his soul.
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In the following August, 1093, Anselm suffered
himself to be enthroned
4
in Canterbury Cathedral.
He was renouncing peace for the sword. The
liberty of the Church has had, and is having, its
bloodless martyrs, in the men who have either to
establish Catholic traditions, or to maintain them in
the face of the powers that be.
The customs of the Conqueror implied rather a
love of power than greed of money; but the con*m'tudo
nearest to the heart of the Conqueror's son was the
traffic of holy things. Gold was his cry, and he