hildegard_english_final

The Theologian
Hildegard of Bingen is the most significant female theologian
and writer of Christendom before the 16th century. She is on the
same level with major theological thinkers of her age. In her
extensive and diverse writings Hildegard is mainly concerned
with the authentic interpretation of the Scriptures. It is her
utmost concern to direct humans onto the way of salvation. The
relationship between God, man and the world is at the centre of
her theological concept. Man as God’s creature within creation
and with responsibility for it is at the very heart of her thinking
and her visions. Every single person is at all times called upon to
be sensitive to their responsibility before God in their lives, in
their thoughts and actions.
As a theologian, I am fascinated by the
individuality with which Hildegard interprets the
Bible. I am particularly impressed by her reading of
Genesis 2: in contrast to her contemporaries, for
Hildegard, the secondary creation of Eve is not a
shortcoming, but an advantage for woman –
because Eve, unlike Adam, for whom God needed
two steps (clay and breath), is fully human from
the beginning. I gladly draw inspiration from
Hildegard’s creative dialogue with the Bible! As a
woman with management concerns in the Catholic
Church, I am fascinated by Hildegard: She
realistically assessed her opportunities and
limitations in a male dominated church. Hildegard
was no revolutionary, but a superb strategist,
tactician and politician. She knew and accepted the
conventions and rules – but at the same time did
not let herself be diverted.
Hildegard Gosebrink
Theologian and Hildegard Biographer
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit cannot be separate one from
the other, but are at work in unison with one accord. These
three persons of the true Trinity live inseparably in the
majesty of the Godhead (…) Therefore, oh man, know the One
God in three persons. But in the folly of your mind, you think
that God was so powerless that He would not be able to truly
live in three persons, but in weariness to only exist in one. (…)
But the Father is not without the Son, nor the Son without the
Father, nor are the Father and the Son without the Holy Spirit,
nor the Holy Spirit without them both, since these three
persons are inseparable in the unity of the Godhead.
Hildegard, Liber Scivias
In the midst of the structure of the world there is man, because he
is more powerful than the other creatures that live in it; admittedly,
he is of slight stature, but he is great due to the strength of his
soul. His head he turns upwards, his feet downwards and thus
moves the upper and lower elements. Similarly he penetrates them
with the work he does with his right and his left hand, because with
the power of his inner person he has the strength to do this. Just
as the size of man’s body exceeds the size of his heart, so the powers
of the soul with their strength surpass
man’s body. And just as man’s heart is
hidden within his body, so his body is
enveloped by the powers of the
soul, because they span the
whole earth.
Hildegard, Liber Divinorum Operum