Christian Women in the Medieval Era – Part 32

Hildegard of Bingen – Part 2

Introduction:

Many historians pay little attention to the Medieval Era. Calling the period between 500 to 1500 AD the “Dark Ages” they give readers the idea that there wasn’t anything important that happened, some even writing as though the times were backward.  

The truth is that there were advances in all areas of culture taking place including agriculture, religion, politics, economics, and science. There were many changes taking place in the Church. Though historians often neglect the facts, women took part in all areas of ministry during the Medieval Ages.

We have looked at only a few of the many stories of women from the Medieval period. We covered early Middle Ages with woman such as Genovefa and Brigid of Ireland (5^th and 6^th centuries). Then we moved on to the 7^th and 8^th centuries with stories of abbesses and queens such as Gertrude, Frideswide, and Lioba. We continued with the stories of 9^th and 10^th century women such as Dhuoda (writer and Theologian), and Irene, Euphrosyne, and Theodora who were Byzantine empresses. Then we presented the story of the amazingly gifted Hrotsvitha, a poet and a playwright whose works are still influential today. We then moved into the 11^thand 12^th centuries with the stories of strong, passionate, and gifted women like Anna Komnene and empresses, queens and princesses including Empress Adelheid, Queen Margaret of Scotland and Queen Eleanor of England and Duchess of Aquitaine. 

In the 12^th and 13^th centuries many women sought to grow in their faith by joining a some form of spiritual community. We discovered that many different groups of women served the Lord Jesus in unique ways. The Beguines were in communities but not as formal as church convents. This enabled them to go into the places where the poor and needy were in order to serve them better. Many other women served in cloisters (convents). A stellar example of a woman who was totally focused on God and helped to contribute to the many changes in society in all areas of culture is Hildegard of Bingen.

Hildegard of Bingen (1098 – 1179) – Part 2

Hildegard is remembered as one of the most brilliant and gifted women who ever lived. In our last post we recounted mainly one of her many abilities – her gift of music. During her lifetime, Hildegard composed seventy vocal works. In the 1980’s they were rediscovered and many have now been recorded. Hildegard composed the music and the lyrics. Her works show her love and her longing for Christ. I hope that you went online to the link I left in the previous post and listened to her music being performed.^[1]

There is much more to relate about Hildegard including the books and plays she wrote, her contributions to theology, her love of science and medicine, her prophecies, her preaching and teaching activities, and her love and care for God, her sisters, and the poor. 

One of Hildegard’s many talents was writing. Around 1141, she had begun to write a book, Scivias, (or Sciens Vias, “Know the Way”), which eventually took her ten years to complete. Hildegard felt it was important to record her visions from God. She claimed that her visions helped her to understand the Old and New Testaments. Men and women of her day, including the well-known Bernard of Clairvaux, endorsed her visions. Many believed that she could understand the past, present, and future. She astonished people by claiming things which later came true. In 1147, after only a few parts of the Scivias were finished, Pope Eugenius III declared Hildegard’s prophetic writings to be authentic.

Another way in which Hildegard expressed her faith was in her art. Her book included 26 drawings of things that she had seen in her visions. This picture below is called the “Choirs of Angels” and is found in her book Scivias. The drawings that represent her visions are beautiful and intriguing. It has not been proven that she drew all of the pictures herself, but it is very probable given her immense imaginative and creative abilities. This example below is a beautiful representation of angels in a wheel. (From: Hildegard von Bingen, Scivias I.6: The Choirs of Angels, 1151. From the Rupertsberg manuscript.) 

After Scivias, Hildegard wrote other books, including the Book of Life’s Merits, and the Book of the Divine Works. 

Many people sought Hildegard’s wisdom. Pilgrims came from far and wide to hear her speak. She also traveled throughout Germany preaching and writing. Many others came because she was an herbalist and had a reputation as a healer. Archbishop Philip of Cologne was repeating what many Christians thought when he said that Hildegard had divine gifts including the gift of prophecy. 

Hildegard wrote hundreds of letters to both lowborn and highborn. Some of the leading lights to whom she wrote included the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, and King Henry II of England, (who you might recall was the husband of the famous Eleanor of Aquitaine – mother of King Richard the Lionhearted.)^[2] Hildegard’s letters covered many subjects including spiritual advice, prophecies and even warnings. One example comes from a letter she wrote to the church community at Mainz. They were tolerating heretics and her advice was, “The church mourns and wails over their wickedness while her sons are polluted by their iniquity. Therefore, cast them from yourselves lest your community and city perish.”

Hildegard was at least two centuries ahead of her time. Effectively acting like a true Renaissance woman, Hildegard was interested in every subject of study including science and medicine. She collected medical lore and compiled it into a book, Causae et Curae, which contained many descriptions of illnesses and their cures. Sounding more like modern times, she also identified mental illnesses such as despair, dread, insanity, and obsession. Because of her love of nature, Hildegard also studied physical phenomena and she gathered many details into an encyclopedia, Physica (“Natural History”). According to historians, what she wrote was on par with the top naturalists of her day.

Besides an amazing scientific mind, Hildegard also possessed a very creative side. In the twelfth century, Bibles were rare. The Church used visual and musical aids to help people memorize Scripture. Hildegard knew that it would be easier to teach her students about the Christian life with imaginative and interesting oral instruction. She set about creating her own teaching aids. She wrote hymns and responses to be used in worship services.

Sometime around 1150 in honor of the dedication of the new abbey, Hildegard wrote the first morality play, Play of the Virtues, in which people are given the names of the virtues and then they contend with the devil. In Hildegard’s play the usual order of assigning parts for that day were reversed – women played the parts of the virtues and a man played the part of the devil. That may not seem so astounding in the twenty-first century, but in the twelfth century it was considered scandalous by many, especially the male hierarchy in the church. However, the play was well-received as a valuable teaching tool.

In our last post we saw that Hildegard contributed to the study of theology especially in her music. Hildegard was concerned that believers honored the Holy Spirit. For Hildegard the Holy Spirit is associated with abundant life. The Holy Spirit is also the One Who brings understanding of the Scriptures (John 16:13). Hildegard gave honor to the Holy Spirit as the one who helps believers in their search for knowledge and wisdom.

When she was about sixty years old, retirement age for many people today, Hildegard undertook several preaching tours. As she traveled around, she even preached to men, a fact which shows how much respect she had gained by this time. Her sermons sound much like many we hear today; she taught on the corruption of the Church and how it needed cleansing.^[3] She gave a tongue lashing to those who were “lukewarm and sluggish” in living the Christian life. She berated those who were slow in justice for the poor. Hildegard and the nuns in her abbey led by example always working among the poor and destitute bringing the light of the gospel along with food, medicine, clothing, and comfort.

Hildegard continued to minister even in her eighties. Though Bernard of Clairvaux and Pope Eugenius III recognized her spiritual credibility and authority, other church leaders had been angered when she justly renounced them for their excesses. They opposed Hildegard right up until her death. Nevertheless, Hildegard faithfully went about her tasks as God called her. 

Hildegard’s life produced much fruit. Certainly, many scholars, religious leaders, historians, and devout believers consider Hildegard an extraordinary woman. Her writings inspired many then and now to deepen their spiritual lives in prayer and service. No matter what century Hildegard had lived in, she would have been considered a devout Christian with amazing gifts. She died on September 17, 1079 in Bingen at age eighty-one. Pope John XXII beatified Hildegard on August 26, 1326. 

On October 7, 2012 Hildegard of Bingen was named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict. Pope Benedict’s sermon sums up Hildegard’s life honestly. He alludes to Hildegard’s prophetic spirit and certainly Hildegard’s visions were the basis for her authority as a teacher in the church. 

In his address to the Synod of Bishops he said:

Saint Hildegard of Bingen, an important female figure of the twelfth century, offered her precious contribution to the growth of the Church of her time, employing the gifts received from God and showing herself to be a woman of brilliant intelligence, deep sensitivity and recognized spiritual authority. The Lord granted her a prophetic spirit and fervent capacity to discern the signs of the times. Hildegard nurtured an evident love of creation, and was learned in medicine, poetry and music. Above all, she maintained a great and faithful love for Christ and the Church.

Truly, the Lord greeted Hildegard when she arrived in heaven with this praise:

Well done, good and faithful servant! … Come and share you master’s happiness! 

(Matthew 25:21)

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^[1] Here is the link again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YTOiJ-zjP0&list=RD0YTOiJ-zjP0&index=1

^[2] See post September 22, 2020 “Queen Eleanor of England”. https://mylordkatie.wordpress.com/2020/09/

^[3] Here again, Hildegard was way ahead of her time. It would be almost two centuries before Birgitta of Sweden and Catherine of Siena would advocate for church reform. These posts coming in the next few weeks.