Hildegard of Bingen
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An overview of Hildegard's accomplishments
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Hildegard of Bingen
- 1. Hildegard of Bingen A Visionary for Her Time
- 2. Biography Born in Bermersheim, Germany, 1098 Wealthy family of nobility As the 10th child, she was pledged to the church as an infant. She was sent to Disibodenberg Monastery at the age of 8. Hildegard was mentored by a nun, Jutta. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Disibodenbe rg_Rekonstruktion.jpg
- 3. Who was Hildegard? ▪ Benedictine nun ▪ Theologian ▪ Visionary ▪ Scientist ▪ Composer ▪ Exorcist ▪ Author https://heroinesofhistory.wikispaces.com/Hildegard+of +Bingen
- 4. Chronology of Hildegard’s Life ▪ 1098 Hildegard born at Bermersheim in diocese of Mainz. ▪ 1106 Entrusted to care of anchoress Jutta of Spanheim, who lived enclosed at Disibodenberg Benedictine monastery. ▪ 1136 Jutta died, Hildegard became head of small convent of nuns at Disibodenberg. ▪ 1141 A compelling vision persuaded Hildegard to write what she saw and heard. This began the Scivias – her first great theological work. ▪ 1147 Pope Eugenius III declared Hildegard’s work to be divinely inspired and authorized her to continue recording her visions.
- 5. Chronology of Hildegard ▪ 1150 Hildegard moved her convent to Rupertsberg, on the Rhine. ▪ 1151-8 Natural History and Causes and Cures written. ▪ 1151 Opposes removal of Richardis. ▪ 1158-62 Extended illness, and also started first preaching tour. ▪ 1158 – 1174 More books and tours taken ▪ 1165 Founded a second community at Eibingen ▪ 1179 Died September 17, 1179
- 6. Challenges Faced Physical – migraines, fiery visions Lack of education Woman – not many privileges, rights, or education available. http://www.sineris.es/hildegard_bingen.html
- 7. Accomplishments of Hildegard An Author ▪ Scivias – 10 yrs to write ▪ Books on medicine and natural science ▪ Books on religion, saints, visions ▪ Developed an alternative alphabet ▪ Composed religious songs and chants An Advisor ▪ Kings, bishops ▪ Encouraged reform ▪ Condemned corruption ▪ Wrote many letters to give counsel
- 8. Accomplishments of Hildegard ▪ Traveled a lot, started tour of Europe in 1155 ▪ Founded two monasteries ▪ Accounts of healing miracles
- 9. Visions of Hildegard Egg of the Universe In this vision, she shows the universe as a cosmic egg. ” An egg is also a symbol of life, and for Hildegard the Universe is living, renewing, and creating. Gold is also associated with fire, which brings warmth and also sustains life. The colors here speak of a vibrant universe pulsating with life.
- 10. Sophia: Mother Wisdom, Mother Church An image of life-giving power is Ecclessia or Sophia, the Church and wisdom of God. Both are feminine images. The color blue is very prominent, which also recalls the sea. The apostles were fishermen and Sophia almost looks like a mermaid here. Blue is a soft, gentle color associated with the ocean, from which comes life and which has so many Christian connotations.
- 11. Hildegard the Saint ▪ Although the history of her formal consideration is complicated, she has been recognized as a saint by branches of the Roman Catholic Church for centuries. On 7 October 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named her a Doctor of the Church. https://elrincondesofista.wordpress.com/ta g/edad-media/
- 12. A Woman in the 12th Century ▪ How did a woman in the 12th century become a respected authority and writer on many subjects? ▪ How did she overcome factors that suppressed women?
- 13. God is Divine ▪ She was placed with a woman, Jutta, and assisted by a monk, Volmar that accepted her visions and helped get word to the Pope Eugenius III. ▪ Pope Eugenius III accepted her writings as divinely inspired and requested her to continue writing. ▪ Her illnesses actually gave credibility to her visions. ▪ She was given the faith to believe that her visions were from God.
- 14. A Woman with a Vision and a Purpose Hildegard purposed to stir up consciousness, oppose godlessness, and present the divine love of God to all.
- 15. Sources The Life of the Saintly Hildegard. Translated, with notes, by Hugh Feiss, osb. Ontario: Peregrina Publishing Co., 1996. [BX4700.H5 G613 1996] Hildegard of Bingen. Secrets of God. Selected and Translated by Sabina Flanagan. Massachusetts: Shambhala Publications, 1996. [BX4700.H5 A25 1996] Flanagan, Sabina. Hildegard of Bingen, a Visionary Life. Second Edition. New York: Routledge, 1998. [BX4700.H5 F54 1998]
Editor's Notes
- Utta herself had little education, but did teach Hildegard prayers, embroidery, cooking, and some reading and singing.
- 1147- Scivias took her 10 years to write In the meantime she began composing songs.
- 1150- much opposition from monks for her to move 1151 – Richardis was a friend, confident, secretary, beloved.
- Transformed images into poetry and chants Made it hard to write and to express her thoughts/feelings
- Organized plants into species Scivias – 3 major sections – entry of sin into the world, work of redemption, salvation steps Offers a way to deal with how people should live in order to reach heaven.
- Just as in an egg everything is connected, she saw the Holy Spirit as “the mighty way in which everything that is in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth is penetrated with connectedness, penetrated with relatedness” The egg is surrounded by flames, which represents God burning everywhere. In the center is air full of water, giving moisture to the entire egg. In the globe, a mountain divides darkness from light. Think also here of the colors which are used: the vivid golds and the purple-reds. With what natural objects is gold associated
- Look at the “clothing” on the female image. The designs here are strikingly like those of fish, which live in the ocean. Look also at the “arms” of the figure, which look like fins. Three groups of people around the head: Apostles & Clergy, Virgins & Virgin Martyrs (maiden in red at forefront –courageous, wise), Lay persons – build the church. The use of blue here and the fish-scales on the clothing of Sophia provides a nurturing, mother-like image of the divine which is feminine in nature.
- Hildegard was one of the first persons for whom the Roman canonization process was officially applied, but the process took so long that four attempts at canonization were not completed and she remained at the level of her beatification. Her name was nonetheless taken up in the Roman Martyrology at the end of the 16th century. Her feast day is 17 September. Numerous popes have referred to Hildegard as a saint, including Pope John Paul II[74] and Pope Benedict XVI.[75] On 10 May 2012, Pope Benedict XVI extended the liturgical cult of St. Hildegard to the entire Catholic Church[76] in a process known as "equivalent canonization,"[77] thus laying the groundwork for naming her a Doctor of the Church.[78] On 7 October 2012, the feast of the Holy Rosary, the pope named her a Doctor of the Church, the fourth woman of 35 saints given that title by the Roman Catholic Church.[79] He called her "perennially relevant" and "an authentic teacher of theology and a profound scholar of natural science and music."[80] Hildegard of Bingen also appears in the calendar of saints of various Anglican churches, such as that of the Church of England, in which she is commemorated on 17 September. Hildegard's parish and pilgrimage church in Eibingen near Rüdesheim houses her relics.
- It was believed that men were stronger in mind and body They were morally stronger. Women needed monastery more so they could not stray toward bodily things. Few education facilities that allowed women, many were taught by mother, that were also uneducated. Males had access to tutors and to schools Some women disguised as men. Men were usually commissioned to write a biography or history. The topic of theology was not to be undertaken by anyone without years of study
- Hildegard claims to be able to interpret spirit of visions and relate to Christian faith and biblical teachings right away – she receives understanding from the voice from heaven. Her role as a prophet to tell the will of God gave her a public role as a preacher, writer, counselor, exorcist.