Prayers and Meditations of St. Anselm with the Proslogion (Penguin Classics) [Paperback]

Anselm of Aosta (Author), Benedicta Ward (Translator, Introduction), R. W. Southern (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: Penguin Classics | Publication Date: November 29, 1979

Mostly written between 1070 and 1080, before he became Archbishop of Canterbury, the prayers and meditations of Anselm of Aosta created a tradition of intimate, intensely personal devotional works written in subtle and theologically daring prose. While the "Prayer to God" is based on the "Lord's Prayer", the "Prayer to Christ" is inspired by ardent private emotion and other prayers invest saints with individual attributes, with John the Baptist as the friend, Peter as the shepherd and Mary Magdalene as the forgiving lover, among many others. The meditations include a searching exploration of the state of the soul and a lament on the loss of purity, and the "Proslogion" discusses the mysteries of faith. With their bright imagery, beautiful language and highly original thought, the works of Anselm have secured a lasting place in both religious and secular literature.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Latin (translation)

About the Author

Translated and with an introduction by Benedicta Ward with a foreword by R. W. Southern

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (November 29, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140442782
• ISBN-13: 978-0140442786
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #169,023 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best english translation available, December 1, 2000

By 

Howard Go (Baguio City, Philippines) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prayers and Meditations of St. Anselm with the Proslogion (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

If you want a chance to experience the devotion in Anselm's prayers and meditations (as it was meant to be experienced), then this is the one (English) translation that you must have (assuming you can't read the original Latin). This book allows one to feel the essence of worship that is necessary in understanding Anselm's thought. I've read some other translations (especially those of the Proslogion), and only this edition can claim to be the prayer that Anselm meant them to be. The brief introduction featured in the book is also worth reading, although it doesn't give all the details, it does allow one to understand why Anselm has been misunderstood by so many, and it gives one a chance to understand him better.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book from a great saint!, January 22, 2011

By 

Dennis J. Cowles (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Prayers and Meditations of St. Anselm with the Proslogion (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

St. Anselm's prayers and meditations are a great departure point for lectio divina, which is why he wrote them. His prayer to St. Benedict is very moving, as is the prayer to St. Paul. St. Anselm sent these prayers to friends, in order to provide them with a foundation for their own prayer life--the idea is that these prayers will naturally lead the reader into deeper and more personalized prayer. If you are interested in lectio divina, and are looking for very spiritual reading from one of the great masters, this is your book!