An Italian bishop and canon lawyer of the Gregorian Reform, Bishop of Lucca from 1073 until his death in 1086, and an ally of Countess Matilda of Tuscany.

Saint Anselm of Lucca, born around 1035, served as Bishop of Lucca from 1073 until his death on March 18, 1086, at about fifty years old, and was among the foremost canon lawyers and reform-minded churchmen of his era. A nephew of Pope Alexander II, he became a leading ally of Pope Gregory VII and Countess Matilda of Tuscany in the struggle against lay control of the Church known as the Investiture Controversy.

Quick Facts

• Born: 1035, Italy
• Died: March 18, 1086 (age about 50)
• Bishop of Lucca: 1073-1086
• Venerated as: Bishop and Cardinal

Who Was Saint Anselm of Lucca?

Saint Anselm was born around 1035 and was the nephew of Anselm the Elder of Baggio, who became Pope Alexander II; the younger Anselm is sometimes distinguished as Anselm of Lucca to avoid confusion with his uncle. He served as Bishop of Lucca in Tuscany from 1073 until his death on March 18, 1086, at roughly fifty years of age, and also held responsibility for the diocese of Reggio Emilia as apostolic administrator in his final years.

Historical Setting

Anselm’s episcopate coincided almost exactly with the Investiture Controversy, the sweeping conflict between Pope Gregory VII and the German emperor Henry IV over whether secular rulers could appoint bishops, a struggle that reshaped the relationship between Church and state across Western Europe. Anselm allied closely with Gregory VII and with Countess Matilda of Tuscany, one of the papacy’s strongest secular supporters, and compiled an important canon law collection that provided scholarly ammunition for the reform party’s arguments against lay investiture.

Why the Church Remembers Saint Anselm

Anselm is remembered as a scholar-bishop who combined pastoral office with serious legal and theological work in defense of the Church’s freedom from secular control, a central concern of the Gregorian Reform movement. His canon law collection remained influential for generations after his death.

Canonization and Feast Day

No formal canonization process, in the later medieval sense, considered Saint Anselm of Lucca. His veneration rests on ancient recognition in Lucca and in the broader reform party’s memory of him, received into the Church’s calendar of saints.

What Catholics Can Learn Today

Anselm’s combination of scholarly rigor and pastoral courage in defending the Church’s freedom from improper secular control speaks to the ongoing importance of both study and conviction in Church leadership. His example encourages Catholics to see careful intellectual work as itself a form of service to the Church in times of institutional conflict.

A Prayer to Saint Anselm

Saint Anselm of Lucca, bishop and scholar who defended the Church’s freedom in a difficult age, pray for bishops and Church leaders facing institutional pressure today. Grant them your combination of learning and courage. Amen.

Sources

• Roman Martyrology
• Butler’s Lives of the Saints
• New Advent, Catholic Encyclopedia