Abbess hildegard biography sample

German Benedictine nun, occult, composer and writer (c. 1098–1179)

In this medieval name, the private name is Hildegard and Bingen is an appellation or signifier. There is no family name.

Saint Hildegard of Bingen OSB
Illumination elude Hildegard's Scivias (1151) showing make more attractive receiving a vision and dictating to teacher Volmar
Born	Hildegard von Bingen c. 1098 Bermersheim vor der Höhe, County Palatal of the Rhine, Holy Established Empire
Died	17 September 1179(1179-09-17) (aged 81) Bingen posse Rhein, County Palatine of magnanimity Rhine, Holy Roman Empire
Venerated in	Catholic Cathedral, Anglican Communion, Lutheranism
Beatified	26 August 1326 (Formal confirmation of Cultus) brush aside Pope John XXII
Canonized	10 May 2012 (equivalent canonization), Vatican City get by without Pope Benedict XVI
Major shrine	St. Hildegard, Eibingen
Feast	17 September
Philosophy career
Notable work
Era	Medieval philosophy
Region	Western philosophy
School	Neoplatonism
Main interests	mystical theology, remedy, botany, natural history, music, literature
Notable ideas	Microcosm–macrocosm analogy, Eternal predestination encourage Christ, viriditas, Lingua ignota, humoral theory, morality play

Hildegard of BingenOSB, (German: Hildegard von Bingen, pronounced[ˈhɪldəɡaʁtfɔnˈbɪŋən]; Latin: Hildegardis Bingensis; c. 1098 – 17 Sep 1179), also known as primacy Sibyl of the Rhine, was a German Benedictineabbess and brainy active as a writer, founder, philosopher, mystic, visionary, and though a medical writer and operator during the High Middle Ages.^[1][2] She is one of dignity best-known composers of sacred monody, as well as the maximum recorded in modern history.^[3] She has been considered by unornamented number of scholars to titter the founder of scientific unusual history in Germany.^[4]

Hildegard's convent dilemma Disibodenberg elected her as magistra (mother superior) in 1136.

She founded the monasteries of Rupertsberg in 1150 and Eibingen instruct in 1165. Hildegard wrote theological, biology, and medicinal works,^[5] as swimmingly as letters, hymns, and antiphons for the liturgy.^[2] She wrote poems, and supervised miniature paroxysms in the Rupertsberg manuscript locate her first work, Scivias.^[6] In attendance are more surviving chants get ahead of Hildegard than by any in relation to composer from the entire Medial Ages, and she is single of the few known composers to have written both character music and the words.^[7] See to of her works, the Ordo Virtutum, is an early comments of liturgical drama and arguably the oldest surviving morality play.^[a] She is noted for honourableness invention of a constructed chew the fat known as Lingua Ignota.

Although the history of her ceremonious canonization is complicated, regional calendars of the Catholic Church keep listed her as a archangel for centuries. On 10 Could 2012, Pope Benedict XVI lingering the liturgical cult of Hildegard to the entire Catholic Creed in a process known chimp "equivalent canonization". On 7 Oct 2012, he named her far-out Doctor of the Church, reap recognition of "her holiness collide life and the originality be successful her teaching."^[8]

Biography

Hildegard was born roughly 1098.

Her parents were Mechtild of Merxheim-Nahet and Hildebert delineate Bermersheim, a family of picture free lower nobility in authority service of the Count Meginhard of Sponheim.^[9] Sickly from line, Hildegard is traditionally considered their youngest and tenth child,^[10] notwithstanding there are records of unique seven older siblings.^[11][12] In breather Vita, Hildegard states that distance from a very young age she experienced visions.^[13]

Spirituality

From early childhood, extensive before she undertook her habitual mission or even her conventual vows, Hildegard's spiritual awareness was grounded in what she known as the umbra viventis lucis, birth reflection of the living Flash.

Her letter to Guibert inducing Gembloux, which she wrote suspicious the age of 77, describes her experience of this light:

From my early childhood, formerly my bones, nerves, and veins were fully strengthened, I possess always seen this vision block my soul, even to ethics present time when I stow more than seventy years long-lived.

In this vision, my category, as God would have dissuade, rises up high into nobility vault of heaven and turn-off the changing sky and spreads itself out among different peoples, although they are far walk off from me in distant property property law and places. And because Farcical see them this way spiky my soul, I observe them in accord with the transient of clouds and other built things.

I do not be all ears them with my outward affront, nor do I perceive them by the thoughts of capsize own heart or by proletarian combination of my five powers, but in my soul unaccompanie, while my outward eyes industry open. So I have not in a million years fallen prey to ecstasy groove the visions, but I look out over them wide awake, day predominant night.

And I am always fettered by sickness, and oftentimes in the grip of hurt so intense that it threatens to kill me, but Demigod has sustained me until at the moment. The light which I doubt thus is not spatial, nevertheless it is far, far brighter than a cloud which carries the sun. I can magnitude neither height, nor length, dim breadth in it; and Uncontrollable call it "the reflection reinforce the living Light." And gorilla the sun, the moon, allow the stars appear in distilled water, so writings, sermons, virtues, professor certain human actions take epileptic fit for me and gleam.^[14]

Monastic life

Perhaps because of Hildegard's visions as an alternative as a method of factional positioning, or both, Hildegard's parents offered her as an pumpkinshaped to the Benedictine monastery undergo Disibodenberg, which had been not long ago reformed in the Palatinate Timberland.

The date of Hildegard's boundary at the monastery is rendering subject of debate. Her Vita says she was eight life old when she was alleged with Jutta, who was distinction daughter of Count Stephan II of Sponheim and about cardinal years older than Hildegard.^[15] On the contrary, Jutta's date of enclosure give something the onceover known to have been accomplish 1112, when Hildegard would plot been 14.^[16] Their vows were received by Bishop Otto relief Bamberg on All Saints Acquaint with 1112.

Some scholars speculate consider it Hildegard was placed in leadership care of Jutta at high-mindedness age of eight, and focus the two of them were then enclosed together six time later.^[17]

In any case, Hildegard viewpoint Jutta were enclosed together recoil Disibodenberg and formed the heart of a growing community diagram women attached to the religious house of monks, named a Frauenklause, a type of female hermitage.

Jutta was also a with one`s head in the and thus attracted many set attendants who came to visit circlet at the monastery. Hildegard states that Jutta taught her discussion group read and write, but range she was unlearned, and so incapable of teaching Hildegard lock up Biblical interpretation.^[18] The written classify of the Life of Jutta indicates that Hildegard probably aided her in reciting the book, working in the garden, fear handiwork, and tending to leadership sick.^[19] This might have bent a time when Hildegard cultured how to play the ten-stringed psaltery.

Volmar, a frequent guest, may have taught Hildegard easily understood psalm notation. The time she studied music could have anachronistic the beginning of the compositions she would later create.^[20]

Upon Jutta's death in 1136, Hildegard was unanimously elected as magistra have possession of the community by her individual nuns.^[21] Abbot Kuno of Disibodenberg asked Hildegard to be abbess, which would be under fillet authority.

Hildegard, however, wanted advanced independence for herself and will not hear of nuns and asked Abbot Kuno to allow them to involve to Rupertsberg.^[22] This was egg on be a move toward indigence, from a stone complex guarantee was well established to elegant temporary dwelling place. When grandeur abbot declined Hildegard's proposition, Hildegard went over his head bear received the approval of Archbishop Henry I of Mainz.

Superior Kuno did not relent, banish, until Hildegard was stricken indifferent to an illness that rendered shrewd paralyzed and unable to relay from her bed, an impede that she attributed to God's unhappiness at her not later his orders to move inclusion nuns to Rupertsberg. It was only when the Abbot could not move Hildegard consider it he decided to grant birth nuns their own monastery.^[23] Hildegard and approximately 20 nuns consequently moved to the St.

Rupertsberg monastery in 1150, where Volmar served as provost, as be a success as Hildegard's confessor and copier. In 1165, Hildegard founded grand second monastery for her nuns at Eibingen.^[24]

Before Hildegard's death form 1179, a problem arose hear the clergy of Mainz: clean up man buried in Rupertsberg confidential died after excommunication from prestige Catholic Church.

Therefore, the clergymen wanted to remove his entity from the sacred ground. Hildegard did not accept this truth, replying that it was adroit sin and that the person had been reconciled to loftiness church at the time company his death.^[25]

Visions

Hildegard said that she first saw "The Shade weekend away the Living Light" at rank age of three, and unused the age of five, she began to understand that she was experiencing visions.^[26] She ragged the term visio (Latin shadow 'vision') to describe this deed of her experience and she recognized that it was marvellous gift that she could grizzle demand explain to others.

Hildegard explained that she saw all possessions in the light of Maker through the five senses: scrutiny, hearing, taste, smell, and touch.^[27] Hildegard was hesitant to artisan her visions, confiding only collect Jutta, who in turn put into words Volmar, Hildegard's tutor and, next, secretary.^[28] Throughout her life, she continued to have many visions, and in 1141, at rectitude age of 42, Hildegard habitual a vision she believed anticipate be an instruction from Deity, to "write down that which you see and hear."^[29] Tea break hesitant to record her visions, Hildegard became physically ill.

High-mindedness illustrations recorded in the publication of Scivias were visions stroll Hildegard experienced, causing her beneficial suffering and tribulations.^[30] In shun first theological text, Scivias ("Know the Ways"), Hildegard describes in sync struggle within:

But I, scour I saw and heard these things, refused to write ejection a long time through dubiety and bad opinion and rectitude diversity of human words, put together with stubbornness but in nobleness exercise of humility, until, set low by the scourge help God, I fell upon nifty bed of sickness; then, obliged at last by many illnesses, and by the witness refer to a certain noble maiden weekend away good conduct [the nun Richardis von Stade] and of cruise man whom I had in confidence sought and found, as tails of above, I set my cope to the writing.

While Farcical was doing it, I intelligence, as I mentioned before, dignity deep profundity of scriptural exposition; and, raising myself from ailment by the strength I traditional, I brought this work peak a close – though unbiased barely – in ten years. [...] And I spoke and wrote these things not by honourableness invention of my heart sneak that of any other man, but as by the concealed mysteries of God I heard and received them in description heavenly places.

And again Frantic heard a voice from Paradise saying to me, 'Cry ludicrous, therefore, and write thus!'

— Hildegard von Bingen, Scivias, translated by Dove Hart and Jane Bishop, 1990^[31]

It was between November 1147 deed February 1148 at the circle in Trier that Pope Eugenius heard about Hildegard's writings.

Scheduled was from this that she received Papal approval to case her visions as revelations differ the Holy Spirit, giving churn out instant credence.^[32]

On 17 September 1179, when Hildegard died, her sisters claimed they saw two streams of light appear in class skies and cross over rectitude room where she was dying.^[33]

Vita Sanctae Hildegardis

Hildegard's hagiography, Vita Sanctae Hildegardis, was compiled by rectitude monk Theoderic of Echternach make something stand out Hildegard's death.^[34] He included excellence hagiographical work Libellus, or "Little Book", begun by Godfrey be the owner of Disibodenberg.^[35] Godfrey had died previously he was able to whole his work.

Guibert of Gembloux was invited to finish prestige work; however, he had suck up to return to his monastery joint the project unfinished.^[36] Theoderic against sources Guibert had left keep a hold of to complete the Vita.

Works

Hildegard's works include three great volumes of visionary theology;^[38] a way of musical compositions for knot in the liturgy, as on top form as the musical morality caper Ordo Virtutum; one of honourableness largest bodies of letters (nearly 400) to survive from justness Middle Ages, addressed to depress ranging from popes to emperors to abbots and abbesses, boss including records of many introduce the sermons she preached give it some thought the 1160s and 1170s;^[39] mirror image volumes of material on innocent medicine and cures;^[40][41] an contrived language called the Lingua Ignota ('unknown language');^[42] and various insignificant works, including a gospel footnote and two works of hagiography.^[43]

Several manuscripts of her works were produced during her lifetime, containing the illustrated Rupertsberg manuscript commemorate her first major work, Scivias; the Dendermonde Codex, which contains one version of her tuneful works; and the Ghent transcript, which was the first fair-copy made for editing of bitterness final theological work, the Liber Divinorum Operum.

At the hang of her life, and perhaps under her initial guidance, exchange blows of her works were sign snub and gathered into the free Riesenkodex manuscript.^[44][45] The Riesenkodex document is a collection of 481 folios of vellum bound be of advantage to pig leather over wooden planks that measure 45 by 30 centimetres (18 by 12 in).^[46]

Visionary theology

Hildegard's most significant works were connect three volumes of visionary theology: Scivias ("Know the Ways", stabilize 1142–1151), Liber Vitae Meritorum ("Book of Life's Merits" or "Book of the Rewards of Life", composed 1158–1163); and Liber Divinorum Operum ("Book of Divine Works", also known as De operatione Dei, "On God's Activity", in progress around 1163 or 1164 instruction completed around 1172 or 1174).

In these volumes, the endure of which was completed as she was well into set aside seventies, Hildegard first describes persist vision, whose details are generally strange and enigmatic, and abuse interprets their theological contents kick up a rumpus the words of the "voice of the Living Light."^[47]

Scivias

With authentic from Abbot Kuno of Disibodenberg, she began journaling visions she had (which is the grounds for Scivias).

Scivias is unembellished contraction of Sci vias Domini ('Know the Ways of say publicly Lord'), and it was Hildegard's first major visionary work, fairy story one of the biggest milestones in her life. Perceiving uncomplicated divine command to "write upset what you see and hear,"^[48] Hildegard began to record bid interpret her visionary experiences.

Razorsharp total, 26 visionary experiences were captured in this compilation.^[32]

Scivias silt structured into three parts familiar unequal length. The first property (six visions) chronicles the groom of God's creation: the Origin and Fall of Adam person in charge Eve, the structure of nobleness universe (described as the spasm of an "egg"), the relation between body and soul, God's relationship to his people safety the Synagogue, and the choirs of angels.

The second dash (seven visions) describes the groom of redemption: the coming scholarship Christ the Redeemer, the Triple, the church as the Mate of Christ and the Curb of the Faithful in inauguration and confirmation, the orders well the church, Christ's sacrifice conference the cross and the Liturgy, and the fight against honourableness devil.

Finally, the third value (thirteen visions) recapitulates the features of salvation told in rendering first two parts, symbolized brand a building adorned with several allegorical figures and virtues. Understand concludes with the Symphony assiduousness Heaven, an early version short vacation Hildegard's musical compositions.^[49]

In early 1148, a commission was sent get by without the Pope to Disibodenberg clobber find out more about Hildegard and her writings.

The forty winks found that the visions were authentic and returned to magnanimity Pope, with a portion drawing the Scivias. Portions of greatness uncompleted work were read loud to Pope Eugenius III kismet the Synod of Trier make a claim 1148, after which he twist and turn Hildegard a letter with government blessing.^[50] This blessing was succeeding construed as papal approval tail all of Hildegard's wide-ranging divine activities.^[51] Towards the end close the eyes to her life, Hildegard commissioned elegant richly decorated manuscript of Scivias (the Rupertsberg Codex); although justness original has been lost in that its evacuation to Dresden receive safekeeping in 1945, its appearances are preserved in a hand-painted facsimile from the 1920s.^[6]

Liber Vitae Meritorum

In her second volume exclude visionary theology, Liber Vitae Meritorum, composed between 1158 and 1163, after she had moved disown community of nuns into democracy at the Rupertsberg in Bingen, Hildegard tackled the moral perk up in the form of dramaturgical confrontations between the virtues contemporary the vices.

She had by that time explored this area in become emaciated musical morality play, Ordo Virtutum, and the "Book of birth Rewards of Life" takes calculation the play's characteristic themes. Pad vice, although ultimately depicted makeover ugly and grotesque, nevertheless offers alluring, seductive speeches that strive to entice the unwary being into their clutches.

Standing sidewalk humankind's defence, however, are interpretation sober voices of the Virtues, powerfully confronting every vicious deception.^[52]

Amongst the work's innovations is call of the earliest descriptions get through purgatory as the place pivot each soul would have weather work off its debts puzzle out death before entering heaven.^[53] Hildegard's descriptions of the possible punishments there are often gruesome trip grotesque, which emphasize the work's moral and pastoral purpose monkey a practical guide to leadership life of true penance jaunt proper virtue.^[54]

Liber Divinorum Operum

Hildegard's dense and grandest visionary work, Liber divinorum operum, had its creation in one of the passive times she experienced something liking an ecstatic loss of sensation.

As she described it domestic an autobiographical passage included superimpose her Vita, sometime in on every side 1163, she received "an exceptional mystical vision" in which was revealed the "sprinkling drops be useful to sweet rain" that she so-called John the Evangelist experienced during the time that he wrote, "In the birthing was the Word" (John 1:1).^[b] Hildegard perceived that this Expression was the key to influence "Work of God", of which humankind is the pinnacle.

Illustriousness Book of Divine Works, thence, became in many ways be thinking about extended explication of the preliminary to the Gospel of John.^[56]

The ten visions of this work's three parts are cosmic shut in scale, to illustrate various immovable of understanding the relationship halfway God and his creation. Ofttimes, that relationship is established bid grand allegorical female figures for Divine Love (Caritas) or Foresight (Sapientia).

The first vision opens the work with a curtain of fire of poetic and visionary carbons, swirling about to characterize God's dynamic activity within the trademark of his work within honourableness history of salvation. The surviving three visions of the greatest part introduce the image subtract a human being standing astraddle the spheres that make construction the universe and detail decency intricate relationships between the individual as microcosm and the sphere as macrocosm.

This culminates down the final chapter of Summit One, Vision Four with Hildegard's commentary on the prologue cling on to the Gospel of John (John 1:1–14), a direct rumination disturb the meaning of "In high-mindedness beginning was the Word". Excellence single vision that constitutes class whole of Part Two stretches that rumination back to say publicly opening of Genesis, and forms an extended commentary on loftiness seven days of the in-thing of the world told make a claim Genesis 1–2:3.

This commentary interprets each day of creation lineage three ways: literal or cosmological; allegorical or ecclesiological (i.e. agnate to the church's history); point of view moral or tropological (i.e. concomitant to the soul's growth attach virtue). Finally, the five visions of the third part unkindness up again the building 1 of Scivias to describe say publicly course of salvation history.

Nobility final vision (3.5) contains Hildegard's longest and most detailed predictive program of the life show consideration for the church from her follow days of "womanish weakness" from end to end of to the coming and terminating downfall of the Antichrist.^[57]

Music

See also: List of compositions by Hildegard of Bingen

Attention in recent decades to women of the primitive Catholic Church has led knowledge a great deal of well-liked interest in Hildegard's music.

Smudge addition to the Ordo Virtutum, 69 musical compositions, each exempt its own original poetic paragraph, survive, and at least duo other texts are known, sort through their musical notation has antiquated lost.^[58] This is one fall foul of the largest repertoires among chivalric composers.

One of her better-known works, Ordo Virtutum (Play pencil in the Virtues), is a ethicalness play.

It is uncertain while in the manner tha some of Hildegard's compositions were composed, though the Ordo Virtutum is thought to have anachronistic composed as early as 1151.^[59] It is an independent Inhabitant morality play with music (82 songs); it does not character or pay homage to glory Mass or the Office blond a certain feast.

It remains, in fact, the earliest faint surviving musical drama that assignment not attached to a liturgy.^[7]

The Ordo virtutum would have anachronistic performed within Hildegard's monastery indifference and for her select people of noblewomen and nuns. Flaunt was probably performed as smart manifestation of the theology Hildegard delineated in the Scivias.

Blue blood the gentry play serves as an apologue of the Christian story take possession of sin, confession, repentance, and exoneration. Notably, it is the feminine Virtues who restore the ruinous to the community of birth faithful, not the male Patriarchs or Prophets. This would receive been a significant message garland the nuns in Hildegard's nunnery.

Scholars assert that the pretend of the Devil would accept been played by Volmar, like chalk and cheese Hildegard's nuns would have unnatural the parts of Anima (the human souls) and the Virtues.^[60] The devil's part is in every respect spoken or shouted, with ham-fisted musical setting. All other signs sing in monophonic plainchant.

That includes patriarchs, prophets, a keep on at soul, an unhappy soul, accept a penitent soul along adapt 16 virtues (including mercy, artlessness, chastity, obedience, hope, and faith).^[61][62]

In addition to the Ordo Virtutum, Hildegard composed many liturgical songs that were collected into uncomplicated cycle called the Symphonia armoniae celestium revelationum.

The songs circumvent the Symphonia are set knock off Hildegard's own text and grouping from antiphons, hymns, and sequences (such as Columba Aspexit), differentiate responsories.^[63] Her music is monodical, consisting of exactly one harmonious line.^[64] Its style has anachronistic said to be characterized toddler soaring melodies that can shuffle the boundaries of traditional Doctor chant and to stand unlikely the normal practices of mono monastic chant.^[65] Researchers are along with exploring ways in which euphoria may be viewed in opposition with her contemporaries, such tempt Hermannus Contractus.^[66] Another feature epitome Hildegard's music that both reflects the 12th-century evolution of psalm, and pushes that evolution as well, is that it is immensely melismatic, often with recurrent harmonious units.

Scholars such as Margot Fassler, Marianne Richert Pfau, boss Beverly Lomer also note decency intimate relationship between music added text in Hildegard's compositions, whose rhetorical features are often writer distinct than is common remove 12th-century chant.^[67] As with lid medieval chant notation, Hildegard's masterpiece lacks any indication of trounce or rhythm; the surviving manuscripts employ late German style signs, which uses very ornamental neumes.^[68] The reverence for the Advanced Mary reflected in music shows how deeply influenced and exciting Hildegard of Bingen and junk community were by the Recent Mary and the saints.^[69]

Scientific captivated medicinal writings

Hildegard's medicinal and well-ordered writings, although thematically complementary adopt her ideas about nature spoken in her visionary works, detain different in focus and range.

Neither claim to be wellhidden in her visionary experience deliver its divine authority. Rather, they spring from her experience slice in and then leading primacy monastery's herbal garden and dispensary, as well as the moot information she likely gained conquest her wide-ranging reading in interpretation monastery's library.^[41] As she gained practical skills in diagnosis, 1 and treatment, she combined secular treatment of physical diseases get better holistic methods centered on "spiritual healing".^[70] She became well proverbial for her healing powers relating to the practical application of tinctures, herbs, and precious stones.^[71] She combined these elements with undiluted theological notion ultimately derived escape Genesis: all things put endless earth are for the get of humans.^[72] In addition succumb to her hands-on experience, she besides gained medical knowledge, including rudiments of her humoral theory, be bereaved traditional Latin texts.^[70]

Hildegard catalogued both her theory and practice be thankful for two works.

The first, Physica, contains nine books that recount the scientific and medicinal strengths of various plants, stones, seek, reptiles, and animals. This report is also thought to eliminate the first recorded reference racket the use of hops put into operation beer as a preservative.^[73][74] Depiction second, Causae et Curae, report an exploration of the anthropoid body, its connections to loftiness rest of the natural pretend, and the causes and cures of various diseases.^[75] Hildegard trustworthy various medical practices in these books, including the use deadly bleeding and home remedies care many common ailments.

She very explains remedies for common farming injuries such as burns, fractures, dislocations, and cuts.^[70] Hildegard can have used the books pick up teach assistants at the friary. These books are historically first-class because they show areas lecture medieval medicine that were bawl well documented because their practitioners, mainly women, rarely wrote happening Latin.

Her writings were commentated on by Mélanie Lipinska, adroit Polish scientist.^[76]

In addition to cast down wealth of practical evidence, Causae et Curae is also notable for its organizational scheme. Neat first part sets the uncalled-for within the context of greatness creation of the cosmos take precedence then humanity as its head, and the constant interplay admire the human person as domain both physically and spiritually lay into the macrocosm of the creation informs all of Hildegard's approach.^[41] Her hallmark is to invalidate the vital connection between character "green" health of the readily understood world and the holistic infirmity of the human person.

Viriditas, or greening power, was suggestion to sustain human beings extract could be manipulated by change the balance of elements surrounded by a person.^[70] Thus, when she approached medicine as a rear of gardening, it was clump just as an analogy. Very, Hildegard understood the plants vital elements of the garden whilst direct counterparts to the humors and elements within the anthropoid body, whose imbalance led swing by illness and disease.^[70]

The nearly trine hundred chapters of the more book of Causae et Curae "explore the etiology, or causes, of disease as well rightfully human sexuality, psychology, and physiology."^[41] In this section, she gives specific instructions for bleeding home-grown on various factors, including having it away, the phase of the slug (bleeding is best done in the way that the moon is waning), say publicly place of disease (use veins near diseased organ or entity part) or prevention (big veins in arms), and how unnecessary blood to take (described double up imprecise measurements, like "the turn that a thirsty person bottle swallow in one gulp").

She even includes bleeding instructions seize animals to keep them hygienic. In the third and forgiveness sections, Hildegard describes treatments sponsor malignant and minor problems weather diseases according to the humoral theory, again including information result animal health. The fifth area is about diagnosis and prophecy, which includes instructions to consult the patient's blood, pulse, water, and stool.^[70] Finally, the onesixth section documents a lunar horoscope to provide an additional whorl of prognosis for both affliction and other medical conditions, specified as conception and the effect of pregnancy.^[41] For example, she indicates that a waxing parasite is good for human commencement and is also good nurture sowing seeds for plants (sowing seeds is the plant reach of conception).^[70] Elsewhere, Hildegard psychoanalysis even said to have stretched the value of boiling drunkenness water in an attempt make inquiries prevent infection.^[77]

As Hildegard elaborates decency medical and scientific relationship betwixt the human microcosm and class macrocosm of the universe, she often focuses on interrelated jurisprudence of four: "the four sprinkling (fire, air, water, and earth), the four seasons, the link humors, the four zones order the earth, and the yoke major winds."^[41] Although she hereditary the basic framework of humoral theory from ancient medicine, Hildegard's conception of the hierarchical inter-balance of the four humors (blood, phlegm, black bile, and timorous bile) was unique, based hang on to their correspondence to "superior" paramount "inferior" elements – blood deed phlegm corresponding to the "celestial" elements of fire and trench, and the two biles resembling to the "terrestrial" elements confiscate water and earth.

Hildegard ordinary the disease-causing imbalance of these humors to result from interpretation improper dominance of the junior humors. This disharmony reflects focus introduced by Adam and Girl in the Fall, which have a thing about Hildegard marked the indelible right of entry of disease and humoral fickleness into humankind.^[41] As she writes in Causae et Curae maxim.

42:

It happens that definite men suffer diverse illnesses. That comes from the phlegm which is superabundant within them. Sue for if man had remained ton paradise, he would not be endowed with had the flegmata within surmount body, from which many evils proceed, but his flesh would have been whole and left out dark humor [livor].

However, as he consented to evil careful relinquished good, he was flat into a likeness of birth earth, which produces good talented useful herbs, as well gorilla bad and useless ones, topmost which has in itself both good and evil moistures. Escape tasting evil, the blood enjoy the sons of Adam was turned into the poison firm footing semen, out of which significance sons of man are begotten.

And therefore their flesh silt ulcerated and permeable [to disease]. These sores and openings draft a certain storm and smoke-darkened moisture in men, from which the flegmata arise and clot, which then introduce diverse infirmities to the human body. Bighead this arose from the crowning evil, which man began horizontal the start, because if Architect had remained in paradise, subside would have had the sweetest health, and the best house, just as the strongest balm emits the best odor; on the contrary on the contrary, man at this very moment has within himself poison prosperous phlegm and diverse illnesses.^[78]

Lingua ignota and Litterae ignotae

Hildegard also cooked-up an alternative alphabet.

Litterae ignotae ('Alternate Alphabet') was another pointless and was more or at least a secret code, or unexcitable an intellectual code – often like a modern crossword confuse today.

Hildegard's Lingua ignota ('unknown language') consisted of a collection of invented words that corresponded to an eclectic list advice nouns.

The list is nearly 1,000 nouns; there are negation other parts of speech.^[79] Interpretation two most important sources shadow the Lingua ignota are honesty Wiesbaden, Hessische Landesbibliothek 2 (nicknamed the Riesenkodex)^[79] and the Songster manuscript.^[42] In both manuscripts, nonmodern German and Latin glosses build written above Hildegard's invented word.

The Berlin manuscript contains with the addition of Latin and German glosses shriek found in the Riesenkodex.^[42] Leadership first two words of character Lingua as copied in grandeur Berlin manuscript are aigonz (German, goth; Latin, deus; English, god) and aleganz (German, engel; Inhabitant, angelus; English, angel).^[80]

Barbara Newman believes that Hildegard used her Lingua ignota to increase solidarity mid her nuns.^[81] Sarah Higley disagrees and notes that there esteem no evidence of Hildegard instruction the language to her nuns.

She suggests that the expression was not intended to be left a secret; rather, the imperial of words for mundane different may indicate that the have a chat was for the whole nunnery and perhaps the larger simple world.^[42] Higley believes that "the Lingua is a linguistic processing of the philosophy expressed reduce the price of her three prophetic books: excellence represents the cosmos of doctrinal and human creation and character sins that flesh is 1 to."^[42]

The text of her poetry and compositions reveals Hildegard's representation of this form of unquestionable medieval Latin, encompassing many concocted, conflated, and abridged words.^[13] Being of her inventions of cruel for her lyrics and back-to-back of a constructed script, go to regularly conlangers look upon her introduce a medieval precursor.^[82]

Significance

During her lifetime

Maddocks claims that it is supposed Hildegard learned simple Latin unacceptable the tenets of the Christlike faith, but was not discerning in the Seven Liberal Music school, which formed the basis hook all education for the knowledgeable classes in the Middle Ages: the Trivium of grammar, rationalistic, and rhetoric plus the Quadrivium of arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, skull music.^[83] The correspondence she held in reserve with the outside world, both spiritual and social, transcended integrity cloister as a space observe spiritual confinement and served acquiesce document Hildegard's grand style talented strict formatting of medieval notice writing.^[84][85]

Contributing to Christian European high-sounding traditions, Hildegard "authorized herself orang-utan a theologian" through alternative linguistic arts.^[84] Hildegard was creative wealthy her interpretation of theology.

She believed that her monastery obligated to exclude novices who were grizzle demand from the nobility because she did not want her general public to be divided on honourableness basis of social status.^[86] She also stated that "woman possibly will be made from man, on the contrary no man can be flat without a woman."^[33]

Because of religion limitation on public, discursive hot air, the medieval rhetorical arts target preaching, letter writing, poetry, extra the encyclopedic tradition.^[87] Hildegard's give away in these arts speaks truth her significance as a someone rhetorician, transcending bans on women's social participation and interpretation vacation scripture.

The acceptance of polite society preaching by a woman, much a well-connected abbess and acclaimed prophet, does not fit righteousness stereotype of this time. Brush aside preaching was not limited beat the monasteries; she preached widely in 1160 in Germany.^[88] She conducted four preaching tours in every part of Germany, speaking to both sacred calling and laity in chapter cover and in public, mainly denouncing clerical corruption and calling commandeer reform.^[89]

Many abbots and abbesses on one\'s own initiative her for prayers and opinions on various matters.^[1] She tour widely during her four harangue tours.^[90] She had several loving followers, including Guibert of Gembloux, who wrote to her much and became her secretary abaft Volmar's death in 1173.

Hildegard also influenced several monastic cohort, exchanging letters with Elisabeth medium Schönau, a nearby visionary.^[91]

Hildegard corresponded with popes such as Metropolis III and Anastasius IV, statesmen such as Abbot Suger, European emperors such as Frederick Irrational Barbarossa, and other notable canvass such as Bernard of Clairvaux, who advanced her work, bully the behest of her superior, Kuno, at the Synod firm Trier in 1147 and 1148.

Hildegard of Bingen's correspondence give something the onceover an important component of remove literary output.^[92]

Veneration

Hildegard was one possess the first persons for whom the Roman canonization process was officially applied, but the contingency took so long that quaternary attempts at canonization were sound completed and she remained chimp the level of her awe.

Her name was nonetheless be part of the cause in the Roman Martyrology send up the end of the Ordinal century up to the emanate 2004 edition, listing her kind "Saint Hildegard" with her banquet on 17 September, which would eventually be added to dignity General Roman Calendar as characteristic optional memorial.^[93] Numerous popes possess referred to Hildegard as adroit saint, including Pope John Missionary II^[94] and Pope Benedict XVI.^[95] Hildegard's pilgrimage church in Eibingen houses her relics.^[96]

On 10 Possibly will 2012, Pope Benedict XVI lenghty the veneration of Saint Hildegard to the entire Catholic Church^[97] in a process known slightly "equivalent canonization,"^[98] thus laying ethics groundwork for naming her great Doctor of the Church.^[99] Range 7 October 2012, the banquet of the Holy Rosary, greatness pope named her a Healer of the Church.^[100] He entitled Hildegard "perennially relevant" and "an authentic teacher of theology deed a profound scholar of standard science and music."^[101]

Hildegard of Bingen also appears in the diary of saints of various Protestant churches, such as that conduct operations the Church of England, pretense which she is commemorated think it over 17 September.^[102][103]

Modern interest

In recent grow older, Hildegard has become of dish out interest to feminist scholars.^[104] They note her reference to in the flesh as a member of illustriousness weaker sex and her relatively constant belittling of women.

Hildegard frequently referred to herself significance an unlearned woman, completely inadequate of Biblical exegesis.^[105] Such boss statement on her part, banish, worked slyly to her use because it made her statements that all of her facts and music came from visions of the Divine more defensible, therefore giving Hildegard the shift to speak in a leave to another time and place where few platoon were permitted a voice.^[106] Hildegard used her voice to delay the church's condemnation of conventional corruption, in particular simony.

Hildegard has also become a assess of reverence within the fresh New Age movement, mostly owing to of her holistic and significant view of healing, as athletic as her status as clean mystic. Although her medical creative writings were long neglected and spread, studied without reference to their context,^[107] she was the afflatus for Dr.

Gottfried Hertzka's "Hildegard-Medicine", and is the namesake support June Boyce-Tillman's Hildegard Network, unadorned healing center that focuses calibrate a holistic approach to eudaemonia and brings together people compassionate in exploring the links among spirituality, the arts, and healing.^[108] Her reputation as a therapeutic assuaging writer and healer was additionally used by early feminists show to advantage argue for women's rights utter attend medical schools.^[107]

Reincarnation of Hildegard has been debated since 1924 when Austrian mystic Rudolf Steiner lectured that a nun search out her description was the over life of Russian poet-philosopher Vladimir Soloviev,^[109] whose visions of Venerated Wisdom are often compared stop Hildegard's.^[110]Sophiologist Robert Powell writes digress hermetic astrology proves the match,^[111] while mystical communities in Hildegard's lineage include that of creator Carl Schroeder^[112] as studied unwelcoming Columbia sociologist Courtney Bender^[113] esoteric supported by reincarnation researchers Director Semkiw and Kevin Ryerson.^[114]

Recordings weather performances of Hildegard's music accept gained critical praise and frequency since 1979.

There is threaten extensive discography of her sweet-sounding works.

In culture

The following additional musical works are directly tied up to Hildegard and her sound or texts:

• Alois Albrecht [de]: Hildegard von Bingen, a liturgical surpass with texts and music jam Hildegard of Bingen, 1998.
• Azam Ali: O Vis Aeternitatis^[115] and O Euchari^[116] by Hildegard of Bingen, 2020
• The Beloved: The Sun Improving (song), O Euchari, sung stomachturning Emily Van Evera on grandeur album A Feather on blue blood the gentry Breath of God by Flight of fancy Voices
• Cecilia McDowall: Alma Redemptoris Mater
• Christopher Theofanidis: Rainbow Body, for belt, 2000^[117]
• David Lynch with Jocelyn Montgomery: Lux Vivens (Living Light): Excellence Music of Hildegard Von Bingen, 1998
• Garmarna: "Euchari" (1999) and Hildegard von Bingen, 2001
• Devendra Banhart: Für Hildegard von Bingen, single diverge the 2013 album Mala.^[