ANSELM, bishop of Lucca, saint. — Nephew of the famous Anselm of Baggio, later Pope Alexander II. Born in 1036, died in Mantua on 10 March 1086. He was a canon of the cathedral of Milan and actively collaborated with his uncle in the reform of the Milanese Church, supporting the actions of the Patarine party. From his uncle, who had been elevated to the papacy, he received (8 October 1073) the bishopric of Lucca. Having gone to Germany, he received investiture from Henry IV “per anulum et baculum,” contrary to the principles fiercely defended, even against Henry IV himself, by Alexander II. For this reason, upon his return to Rome, he was openly censured by the new pope, Gregory VII, who, nonetheless, consecrated him bishop on 2 October 1074. As legate in Germany regarding the question of the *investiture*, he participated (1080) in the Roman Council that condemned the antipope Guibert. He then attempted to introduce the principles of reform into his diocese, but in vain, for indeed the partisans of Henry IV drove him from Lucca. He found refuge with Countess Matilda, who made him her confessor and advisor. Appointed apostolic vicar in Lombardy, he carried out a most notable political role.
He was canonized by Victor III only a year after his death; feast day on 18 March.
Among his writings we recall two books *Contra Guilbertum antipapam pro Gregorio VII* (PL 140, 416-473); *Collectanea ex variis auctoribus Ecclesiae facultates non esse in potestate regis aut caesaris* (Bibliotheca patrum, 18, Lyon); four small treatises on meditation on prayers, perhaps apocryphal; letters. But the work to which his fame is most indebted is the one entitled *Collectionis canonum libri XIII*, not yet fully published despite attempts made over several centuries. The most recent initiative is that of the Berlin Academy, through the work of M. F. Thamer (Innsbruck 1906 ff.).
Certainly composed in the second half of the 11th century, this celebrated collection contains even later documents, which can well be explained by later additions. This does not, however, prove that A. is merely the titular figure and not the true author. It is divided into 13 books and contains about 1200 canons drawn from Roman law, papal acts, councils, etc., relating not only to law but also to theology. It is important for the study of the sources of canon law, theology, apologetics, and the history of the Gregorian Reform.