“Faithful Shepherd of the Flock of God:” Saint Anselm’s Prayer to Saint Peter

Abstract

Saint Anselm was always zealous to attend to his duties of pastoral care for those entrusted to him: his students at Bec, the monks of his monastery, the people of his archdiocese. In this article, I examine Anselm’s “Prayer to Saint Peter” and show how the cura animarum that animated the purpose and activity of Anselm’s pastoral life lies at the basis of his petition to Saint Peter for his intercession and support.