A Companion to Hildegard of Bingen

hildegard of bingen and the hirsau reform 63
William was also a scholar, writing treatises on both music and astronomy
in the form of a dialogue with “Otholus,” certainly his friend Otloh of
St Emmeram (1010–c.1070).24 In the preface to his dialogue on astronomy,
William described how he had been urged not to bury his talent for learning,
but to use his understanding of the natural world, through which the
Creator reveals himself. These were ideas which Otloh had himself developed
in his Liber de admonitione clericorum et laicorum, a treatise that
argues that it was the duty of a monk to explain the Christian message
to both educated and uneducated elements in society.25 The best way to
communicate Christian truths was in the same manner as that of Christ
himself, through parables or analogies drawn from experience. Clerics
endowed with intelligence should not bury their talents, but use them for
the greater good. Layfolk should be goaded towards love of the Creator
through everything in nature, whether through the seasons, flowers, grass,
trees, and fruit, or the beauty of precious stones, painting, or music. In this
way, the uneducated could be inspired and strengthened in their pursuit
of a religious life. William justifijied his own interest in science by citing
an argument from Cassian (itself based on a discussion of St Ambrose,
inspired by Wisdom 7:17–20) that Adam had been endowed with the gift
of divine prophecy with complete knowledge of all creatures, as well as
of the power of grasses, and the nature of trees, stones, and the seasons.26
Very similar ideas would be promoted by Hildegard. Whether or not she
knew William’s writings directly, or was here drawing upon Cassian, she
shared the same passion for understanding both the natural world and
music. Growing up at Disibodenberg, she could not have avoided hearing
about the example William presented.
Disibodenberg and Hildegard’s Early Years
The chronicle of Disibodenberg opens with a vivid presentation of three
decades of political turbulence that led to its refoundation as a monastery
by Archbishop Ruthard of Mainz on May 11, 1107. After mentioning
24 Joachim Wiesenbach, “Wilhelm von Hirsau. Astrolab und Astronomie im 11. Jahrhundert.”
In Hirsau. St. Peter und Paul 1091–1991, pt. 2, pp. 109–54.
25 Otloh, Liber ad admonitione clericorum et laicorum, PL 146:243C–262C.
26 John Cassian, Collationes VIII.21, CSEL 13 (Vienna, 1886), p. 238, quoted by William,
PL 146:1642A–B: “Ab illa uera physicae philosophiae disciplina tradita sibi a maioribus
exciderunt, quam primus homo ille, qui uniuersarum naturarum institutionem e uestigio
subsecutus est, potuit euidenter adtingere suisque posteris certa ratione transmittere.”