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Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) Feast day 17 September Prophet and teacher throughout the ages Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) is regarded as one of the most important women of the German Middle Ages, and is known today far beyond the borders of her Rhenish homeland. Not only her contemporaries were drawn to her; she continues to attract people today who seek for sense and direction in their belief, for wholeness, and for salvation. On October 7, 2012 Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed Hildegard of Bingen a Doctor of the Church, an honour that in the entire history of the Church has been accorded to only thirty men and four women. St. Hildegard’s theological, musical and scientific work, and the way she saw herself, are strongly marked by vision and prophecy. Both the divine origin of what she visualized and heard in the “living light”, and her sense of mission, are special features of her character. St. Hildegard wanted to stir up the conscience of the people of her time and to oppose godlessness. Nevertheless, she did not preach unworldly inwardness at all. Her aim was the religious interpretation of the whole universe, and a consistently Christian life. Heaven and earth, faith and natural science, human existence in all its facets and potentials, everything was a mirror of divine love to her, a gift and challenge at the same time. Hildegard’s writings drew especially from the scriptures, the liturgy, and the Rule of St. Benedict – that is from the same sources she lived as a religious in the Benedictine Order. But she also knew the Fathers of the Church and the great theological thinkers of her time. In her first work, “SCIVIAS – Know the Ways of the Lord”, she contemplated the history of creation and salvation from the origin of the world 2
Prophet and teacher throughout the ages A Beuronese-style portrait of Hildegard, St. Hildegard’s abbey and the human race, through the birth of the Church and Christ’s salvation, to the fulfilment of the Last Days. The eternal story of God and mankind, its turning away from and return to the Creator, is brought to life in ever-changing pictures. What is impressive about Hildegard’s visionary writings is, above all, her powerful eloquence. Thus Hildegard proves herself not only a sovereign theologian, but also a dramatist, poet and composer. The latter aspect found expression in the composition of 77 chants and a mystical play “Ordo Virtutum – Play of Virtues”, portraying in 35 dramatic dialogues the eternal struggle between good and evil. Theologically, she raised the same theme again in her second major work, the “Liber Vitae Meritorum – Book of the Merits of Life”. According to Hildegard’s basic ideas, man 3
Page 1: Hildegard of Bingen Historical Site
Page 5 and 6: Prophet and teacher throughout the
Page 7: Prophet and teacher throughout the
Page 10: Bermersheim This has to be kept in
Page 13 and 14: Bermersheim Ruins of the convent of
Page 16 and 17: The Disibodenberg recluse in this c
Page 18 and 19: The Disibodenberg further scripture
Page 20 and 21: The Rupertsberg nave and the aisles
Page 22 and 23: St. Rochus’ Chapel near Bingen ti
Page 24 and 25: St. Rochus’ Chapel near Bingen th
Page 26 and 27: The Old Convent of Eibingen The old
Page 28 and 29: The Old Convent of Eibingen four de
Page 30 and 31: The Old Convent of Eibingen part of
Page 32 and 33: The Hildegardis Reliquary in Eibing
Page 34 and 35: The Abbey church of St. Hildegard m
Page 36 and 37: The Abbey church of St. Hildegard P
Page 38 and 39: Your contacts at the St. Hildegard

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