St. Anselm: Why study theology?

Today's saint is St. Anselm. I doubt that many have a strong devotion to him, but he is highly important. I write on him in relation to my studies. Why study theology? Or perhaps a better question: How is the study of God even possible?

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St. Anselm saw theology as simply Faith seeking understanding. The mysteries we believe in -- the Trinity, the coming of Christ into the world (Christmas!), the Sacrifice on the Cross, the Resurrection -- are mysteries. All Christians are called to kneel before them in contemplation. But we can also inquire into them - this is not an impossible task. They remain mysteries, since they are deeper than the mind dig, but our faith seeks to be understood by us. The fact that the Ask Father Box at most parishes is full almost every week indicates this.

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But is it not pride that we seek to understand these mysteries that are so far "above" us? Yes and no - if we see these mysteries as an object of scientific inquiry, than yes that is pride -- this is not a physical science. However, we are not only called to know God, but to love Him. We see the person we love the most and we seek to know Him better. You would never put your spouse through the rigors of scientific inquiry, that just doesn't make sense, but over the years of marriage you come to know him or her very deeply. This is the knowledge that our faith seeks about God. It is not pride, because God has made us to know and to love him. He made us in His image and likeness, so we are "like unto God" in a certain way of speaking, and hence can learn about him.

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So why does the seminarian spend so much time studying theology? Because our callings to follow Christ as one of his priest springs from His love for us, and our response to love him in return. Just like the spouse seeks to know his beloved in love and even to contemplate her; the Christian soul on fire for the love of God seeks to know Him and to contemplate Him.