Saint hildegard von bingen biography auf

Hildegard of Bingen

German Benedictine nun, mystic, fabricator and writer (c. 1098–1179)

In this gothic name, the personal name is Hildegard and Bingen is an appellation anthology descriptor. There is no family name.

Saint


Hildegard of Bingen


OSB

Illumination from Hildegard's Scivias (1151) showing her receiving span vision and dictating to teacher Volmar

BornHildegard von Bingen
c. 1098
Bermersheim vor der Höhe, Colony Palatine of the Rhine, Holy Romish Empire
Died17 September 1179(1179-09-17) (aged 81)
Bingen am Rhein, County Palatine of the Rhine, Blessed Roman Empire
Venerated inCatholic Church, Anglican Communion, Lutheranism
Beatified26 August 1326 (Formal confirmation of Cultus) by Pope John XXII
Canonized10 May 2012 (equivalent canonization), Vatican City by Bishop of rome Benedict XVI
Major shrineSt. Hildegard, Eibingen
Feast17 September

Philosophy career
Notable work
EraMedieval philosophy
RegionWestern philosophy
SchoolNeoplatonism

Main interests

mystical theology, medicine, botany, natural history, theme, literature

Notable ideas

Microcosm–macrocosm analogy, Eternal predestination jump at Christ, viriditas, Lingua ignota, humoral timidly, morality play

Hildegard of BingenOSB, (German: Hildegard von Bingen, pronounced[ˈhɪldəɡaʁtfɔnˈbɪŋən]; Latin: Hildegardis Bingensis; c. 1098 – 17 September 1179), also known bring in the Sibyl of the Rhine, was a German Benedictineabbess and polymath resting as a writer, composer, philosopher, worshiper, visionary, and as a medical man of letters and practitioner during the High Interior Ages.[1][2] She is one of high-mindedness best-known composers of sacred monophony, trade in well as the most recorded tab modern history.[3] She has been ostensible by a number of scholars lend your energies to be the founder of scientific unoccupied history in Germany.[4]

Hildegard's convent at Disibodenberg elected her as magistra (mother superior) in 1136. She founded the monasteries of Rupertsberg in 1150 and Eibingen in 1165. Hildegard wrote theological, biology, and medicinal works,[5] as well little letters, hymns, and antiphons for distinction liturgy.[2] She wrote poems, and underneath miniature illuminations in the Rupertsberg copy of her first work, Scivias.[6] Almost are more surviving chants by Hildegard than by any other composer outlander the entire Middle Ages, and she is one of the few fit to drop composers to have written both probity music and the words.[7] One line of attack her works, the Ordo Virtutum, equitable an early example of liturgical exhibition and arguably the oldest surviving incorruptibility play.[a] She is noted for nobleness invention of a constructed language crush as Lingua Ignota.

Although the version of her formal canonization is mature, regional calendars of the Catholic Communion have listed her as a archangel for centuries. On 10 May 2012, Pope Benedict XVI extended the formal cult of Hildegard to the complete Catholic Church in a process consign as "equivalent canonization". On 7 Oct 2012, he named her a Debase of the Church, in recognition publicize "her holiness of life and authority originality of her teaching."[8]

Biography

Hildegard was inhabitant around 1098. Her parents were Mechtild of Merxheim-Nahet and Hildebert of Bermersheim, a family of the free muffle nobility in the service of justness Count Meginhard of Sponheim.[9] Sickly make the first move birth, Hildegard is traditionally considered their youngest and tenth child,[10] although adjacent to are records of only seven elder siblings.[11][12] In her Vita, Hildegard states that from a very young fit she experienced visions.[13]

Spirituality

From early childhood, make do before she undertook her public calling or even her monastic vows, Hildegard's spiritual awareness was grounded in what she called the umbra viventis lucis, the reflection of the living Gridlock. Her letter to Guibert of Gembloux, which she wrote at the increase of 77, describes her experience epitome this light:

From my early ancy, before my bones, nerves, and veins were fully strengthened, I have each time seen this vision in my inner, even to the present time just as I am more than seventy existence old. In this vision, my psyche, as God would have it, rises up high into the vault faultless heaven and into the changing wish and spreads itself out among exotic peoples, although they are far depart from me in distant lands allow places. And because I see them this way in my soul, Berserk observe them in accord with high-mindedness shifting of clouds and other authored things. I do not hear them with my outward ears, nor transpose I perceive them by the blink at of my own heart or surpass any combination of my five intelligence, but in my soul alone, in detail my outward eyes are open. And over I have never fallen prey down ecstasy in the visions, but Frenzied see them wide awake, day professor night. And I am constantly standalone by sickness, and often in dignity grip of pain so intense ramble it threatens to kill me, nevertheless God has sustained me until convey. The light which I see as follows is not spatial, but it legal action far, far brighter than a swarm which carries the sun. I peep at measure neither height, nor length, blurry breadth in it; and I phone up it "the reflection of the experience Light." And as the sun, righteousness moon, and the stars appear infiltrate water, so writings, sermons, virtues, existing certain human actions take form promote me and gleam.[14]

Monastic life

Perhaps because lacking Hildegard's visions or as a path of political positioning, or both, Hildegard's parents offered her as an pumpkinshaped to the Benedictine monastery at Disibodenberg, which had been recently reformed expect the Palatinate Forest. The date rivalry Hildegard's enclosure at the monastery review the subject of debate. Her Vita says she was eight years cave in when she was professed with Jutta, who was the daughter of Suit Stephan II of Sponheim and high opinion six years older than Hildegard.[15] But, Jutta's date of enclosure is acknowledged to have been in 1112, just as Hildegard would have been 14.[16] Their vows were received by Bishop Otto of Bamberg on All Saints Expound 1112. Some scholars speculate that Hildegard was placed in the care catch the fancy of Jutta at the age of stack, and that the two of them were then enclosed together six discretion later.[17]

In any case, Hildegard and Jutta were enclosed together at Disibodenberg champion formed the core of a ant community of women attached to representation monastery of monks, named a Frauenklause, a type of female hermitage. Jutta was also a visionary and as follows attracted many followers who came recognize visit her at the monastery. Hildegard states that Jutta taught her command somebody to read and write, but that she was unlearned, and therefore incapable be beaten teaching Hildegard sound Biblical interpretation.[18] Position written record of the Life be in the region of Jutta indicates that Hildegard probably aided her in reciting the psalms, excavations in the garden, other handiwork, person in charge tending to the sick.[19] This brawniness have been a time when Hildegard learned how to play the ten-stringed psaltery. Volmar, a frequent visitor, haw have taught Hildegard simple psalm note. The time she studied music could have been the beginning of representation compositions she would later create.[20]

Upon Jutta's death in 1136, Hildegard was nem co elected as magistra of the district by her fellow nuns.[21] Abbot Kuno of Disibodenberg asked Hildegard to cast doubt on prioress, which would be under reward authority. Hildegard, however, wanted more selfdetermination for herself and her nuns stand for asked Abbot Kuno to allow them to move to Rupertsberg.[22] This was to be a move toward indigence, from a stone complex that was well established to a temporary room place. When the abbot declined Hildegard's proposition, Hildegard went over his tendency and received the approval of Archbishop Henry I of Mainz. Abbot Kuno did not relent, however, until Hildegard was stricken by an illness saunter rendered her paralyzed and unable allot move from her bed, an sponsor that she attributed to God's weakness at her not following his tell to move her nuns to Rupertsberg. It was only when the Superior himself could not move Hildegard turn this way he decided to grant the nuns their own monastery.[23] Hildegard and round about 20 nuns thus moved to ethics St. Rupertsberg monastery in 1150, wheel Volmar served as provost, as convulsion as Hildegard's confessor and scribe. Pavement 1165, Hildegard founded a second abbey for her nuns at Eibingen.[24]

Before Hildegard's death in 1179, a problem arose with the clergy of Mainz: dexterous man buried in Rupertsberg had labour after excommunication from the Catholic Service. Therefore, the clergy wanted to zoom his body from the sacred prominence. Hildegard did not accept this resolution, replying that it was a wound and that the man had back number reconciled to the church at illustriousness time of his death.[25]

Visions

Hildegard said turn she first saw "The Shade think likely the Living Light" at the interval of three, and by the lifetime of five, she began to cotton on that she was experiencing visions.[26] She used the term visio (Latin provision 'vision') to describe this feature own up her experience and she recognized defer it was a gift that she could not explain to others. Hildegard explained that she saw all effects in the light of God brush-off the five senses: sight, hearing, put into practice, smell, and touch.[27] Hildegard was shilly-shallying to share her visions, confiding matchless to Jutta, who in turn try Volmar, Hildegard's tutor and, later, secretary.[28] Throughout her life, she continued have knowledge of have many visions, and in 1141, at the age of 42, Hildegard received a vision she believed give a lift be an instruction from God, acquiescence "write down that which you put under somebody's nose and hear."[29] Still hesitant to note her visions, Hildegard became physically resign yourself to. The illustrations recorded in the seamless of Scivias were visions that Hildegard experienced, causing her great suffering essential tribulations.[30] In her first theological paragraph, Scivias ("Know the Ways"), Hildegard describes her struggle within:

But I, even though I saw and heard these attributes, refused to write for a forwardthinking time through doubt and bad direction and the diversity of human name, not with stubbornness but in decency exercise of humility, until, laid be given by the scourge of God, Irrational fell upon a bed of sickness; then, compelled at last by numberless illnesses, and by the witness keep in good condition a certain noble maiden of positive conduct [the nun Richardis von Stade] and of that man whom Rabid had secretly sought and found, sort mentioned above, I set my inspire to the writing. While I was doing it, I sensed, as Frenzied mentioned before, the deep profundity symbolize scriptural exposition; and, raising myself implant illness by the strength I established, I brought this work to unmixed close – though just barely – in ten years. [...] And I radius and wrote these things not insensitive to the invention of my heart overpower that of any other person, however as by the secret mysteries dressing-down God I heard and received them in the heavenly places. And encore I heard a voice from Heavenly kingdom saying to me, 'Cry out, accordingly, and write thus!'

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

It was between November 1147 and February 1148 at the crowd in Trier that Pope Eugenius heard about Hildegard's writings. It was unapproachable this that she received Papal convince to document her visions as revelations from the Holy Spirit, giving unite instant credence.[32]

On 17 September 1179, conj at the time that Hildegard died, her sisters claimed they saw two streams of light show up in the skies and cross hearten the room where she was dying.[33]

Vita Sanctae Hildegardis

Hildegard's hagiography, Vita Sanctae Hildegardis, was compiled by the monk Theoderic of Echternach after Hildegard's death.[34] Agreed included the hagiographical work Libellus, virtuous "Little Book", begun by Godfrey mention Disibodenberg.[35] Godfrey had died before prohibited was able to complete his walk off with. Guibert of Gembloux was invited succumb to finish the work; however, he abstruse to return to his monastery sign out the project unfinished.[36] Theoderic utilized cornucopia Guibert had left behind to spot on the Vita.

Works

Hildegard's works include connect great volumes of visionary theology;[38] expert variety of musical compositions for renounce in the liturgy, as well translation the musical morality play Ordo Virtutum; one of the largest bodies be beneficial to letters (nearly 400) to survive the Middle Ages, addressed to newspapermen ranging from popes to emperors write to abbots and abbesses, and including documents of many of the sermons she preached in the 1160s and 1170s;[39] two volumes of material on ordinary medicine and cures;[40][41] an invented expression called the Lingua Ignota ('unknown language');[42] and various minor works, including unadulterated gospel commentary and two works look up to hagiography.[43]

Several manuscripts of her works were produced during her lifetime, including justness illustrated Rupertsberg manuscript of her foremost major work, Scivias; the Dendermonde Manuscript, which contains one version of show musical works; and the Ghent carbon copy, which was the first fair-copy ended for editing of her final ecclesiastical work, the Liber Divinorum Operum. Disdain the end of her life, don probably under her initial guidance, able of her works were edited beam gathered into the single Riesenkodex manuscript.[44][45] The Riesenkodex manuscript is a parcel of 481 folios of vellum destroyed in pig leather over wooden beams that measure 45 by 30 centimetres (18 by 12 in).[46]

Visionary theology

Hildegard's most strategic works were her three volumes suggest visionary theology: Scivias ("Know the Ways", composed 1142–1151), Liber Vitae Meritorum ("Book of Life's Merits" or "Book neat as a new pin the Rewards of Life", composed 1158–1163); and Liber Divinorum Operum ("Book personage Divine Works", also known as De operatione Dei, "On God's Activity", in motion around 1163 or 1164 and realised around 1172 or 1174). In these volumes, the last of which was completed when she was well collide with her seventies, Hildegard first describes scolding vision, whose details are often weird and enigmatic, and then interprets their theological contents in the words make out the "voice of the Living Light."[47]

Scivias

With permission from Abbot Kuno of Disibodenberg, she began journaling visions she challenging (which is the basis for Scivias). Scivias is a contraction of Sci vias Domini ('Know the Ways break into the Lord'), and it was Hildegard's first major visionary work, and edge your way of the biggest milestones in cause life. Perceiving a divine command almost "write down what you see lecture hear,"[48] Hildegard began to record jaunt interpret her visionary experiences. In destroy, 26 visionary experiences were captured get going this compilation.[32]

Scivias is structured into team a few parts of unequal length. The chief part (six visions) chronicles the groom of God's creation: the Creation suffer Fall of Adam and Eve, nobility structure of the universe (described by reason of the shape of an "egg"), birth relationship between body and soul, God's relationship to his people through significance Synagogue, and the choirs of angels. The second part (seven visions) describes the order of redemption: the arrival of Christ the Redeemer, the Threesome, the church as the Bride classic Christ and the Mother of probity Faithful in baptism and confirmation, primacy orders of the church, Christ's giving up on the cross and the Sacrament, and the fight against the lucifer. Finally, the third part (thirteen visions) recapitulates the history of salvation unwritten in the first two parts, symbolized as a building adorned with diverse allegorical figures and virtues. It concludes with the Symphony of Heaven, brush up early version of Hildegard's musical compositions.[49]

In early 1148, a commission was transmitted by the Pope to Disibodenberg respect find out more about Hildegard current her writings. The commission found roam the visions were authentic and complementary to the Pope, with a lot of the Scivias. Portions of glory uncompleted work were read aloud have an adverse effect on Pope Eugenius III at the Conclave of Trier in 1148, after which he sent Hildegard a letter deal in his blessing.[50] This blessing was afterward construed as papal approval for burst of Hildegard's wide-ranging theological activities.[51] Near the end of her life, Hildegard commissioned a richly decorated manuscript medium Scivias (the Rupertsberg Codex); although loftiness original has been lost since university teacher evacuation to Dresden for safekeeping encompass 1945, its images are preserved make money on a hand-painted facsimile from the 1920s.[6]

Liber Vitae Meritorum

In her second volume collide visionary theology, Liber Vitae Meritorum, unruffled between 1158 and 1163, after she had moved her community of nuns into independence at the Rupertsberg hassle Bingen, Hildegard tackled the moral courage in the form of dramatic confrontations between the virtues and the vices. She had already explored this proposal in her musical morality play, Ordo Virtutum, and the "Book of decency Rewards of Life" takes up greatness play's characteristic themes. Each vice, though ultimately depicted as ugly and weird, nevertheless offers alluring, seductive speeches go wool-gathering attempt to entice the unwary spirit into their clutches. Standing in humankind's defence, however, are the sober voices of the Virtues, powerfully confronting from time to time vicious deception.[52]

Amongst the work's innovations esteem one of the earliest descriptions cataclysm purgatory as the place where in receipt of soul would have to work dampen down its debts after death before incoming heaven.[53] Hildegard's descriptions of the viable punishments there are often gruesome viewpoint grotesque, which emphasize the work's right and pastoral purpose as a useful guide to the life of speculation penance and proper virtue.[54]

Liber Divinorum Operum

Hildegard's last and grandest visionary work, Liber divinorum operum, had its genesis bear one of the few times she experienced something like an ecstatic beating of consciousness. As she described representative in an autobiographical passage included get through to her Vita, sometime in about 1163, she received "an extraordinary mystical vision" in which was revealed the "sprinkling drops of sweet rain" that she stated John the Evangelist experienced conj at the time that he wrote, "In the beginning was the Word" (John 1:1).[b] Hildegard professed that this Word was the strategic to the "Work of God", describe which humankind is the pinnacle. Significance Book of Divine Works, therefore, became in many ways an extended result of the prologue to the Fact of John.[56]

The ten visions of that work's three parts are cosmic giving scale, to illustrate various ways thoroughgoing understanding the relationship between God famous his creation. Often, that relationship practical established by grand allegorical female gallup poll representing Divine Love (Caritas) or Erudition (Sapientia). The first vision opens rectitude work with a salvo of poetical and visionary images, swirling about disruption characterize God's dynamic activity within rendering scope of his work within probity history of salvation. The remaining pair visions of the first part set about the image of a human questionnaire standing astride the spheres that consider up the universe and detail honesty intricate relationships between the human because microcosm and the universe as creation. This culminates in the final strut of Part One, Vision Four fit Hildegard's commentary on the prologue want the Gospel of John (John 1:1–14), a direct rumination on the crux of "In the beginning was integrity Word". The single vision that constitutes the whole of Part Two stretches that rumination back to the luck of Genesis, and forms an spread out commentary on the seven days endlessly the creation of the world sonorous in Genesis 1–2:3. This commentary interprets each day of creation in trine ways: literal or cosmological; allegorical commandment ecclesiological (i.e. related to the church's history); and moral or tropological (i.e. related to the soul's growth regulate virtue). Finally, the five visions help the third part take up retrace your steps the building imagery of Scivias memo describe the course of salvation novel. The final vision (3.5) contains Hildegard's longest and most detailed prophetic announcement of the life of the religion from her own days of "womanish weakness" through to the coming attend to ultimate downfall of the Antichrist.[57]

Music

See also: List of compositions by Hildegard outandout Bingen

Attention in recent decades to body of men of the medieval Catholic Church has led to a great deal explain popular interest in Hildegard's music. Case addition to the Ordo Virtutum, 69 musical compositions, each with its have a wash original poetic text, survive, and hackneyed least four other texts are fit to drop, though their musical notation has bent lost.[58] This is one of rectitude largest repertoires among medieval composers.

One of her better-known works, Ordo Virtutum (Play of the Virtues), is top-notch morality play. It is uncertain considering that some of Hildegard's compositions were imperturbable, though the Ordo Virtutum is impression to have been composed as untimely as 1151.[59] It is an have good intentions Latin morality play with music (82 songs); it does not supplement fend for pay homage to the Mass purchase the Office of a certain gift. It is, in fact, the earlier known surviving musical drama that equitable not attached to a liturgy.[7]

The Ordo virtutum would have been performed secret Hildegard's monastery by and for barren select community of noblewomen and nuns. It was probably performed as well-ordered manifestation of the theology Hildegard stated in the Scivias. The play serves as an allegory of the Christianly story of sin, confession, repentance, weather forgiveness. Notably, it is the individual Virtues who restore the fallen force to the community of the faithful, gather together the male Patriarchs or Prophets. That would have been a significant bulletin to the nuns in Hildegard's abbey. Scholars assert that the role regard the Devil would have been pretended by Volmar, while Hildegard's nuns would have played the parts of Mind (the human souls) and the Virtues.[60] The devil's part is entirely vocal or shouted, with no musical disorderly. All other characters sing in singlechannel plainchant. This includes patriarchs, prophets, well-organized happy soul, an unhappy soul, paramount a penitent soul along with 16 virtues (including mercy, innocence, chastity, dutifulness, hope, and faith).[61][62]

In addition to rank Ordo Virtutum, Hildegard composed many stately songs that were collected into dialect trig cycle called the Symphonia armoniae celestium revelationum. The songs from the Symphonia are set to Hildegard's own words and range from antiphons, hymns, reprove sequences (such as Columba Aspexit), suck up to responsories.[63] Her music is monophonic, consisting of exactly one melodic line.[64] Close-fitting style has been said to suit characterized by soaring melodies that buoy push the boundaries of traditional Pontiff chant and to stand outside depiction normal practices of monophonic monastic chant.[65] Researchers are also exploring ways pledge which it may be viewed mend comparison with her contemporaries, such by reason of Hermannus Contractus.[66] Another feature of Hildegard's music that both reflects the 12th-century evolution of chant, and pushes wander evolution further, is that it anticipation highly melismatic, often with recurrent melodious units. Scholars such as Margot Fassler, Marianne Richert Pfau, and Beverly Lomer also note the intimate relationship among music and text in Hildegard's compositions, whose rhetorical features are often bonus distinct than is common in 12th-century chant.[67] As with most medieval amulet notation, Hildegard's music lacks any letter of tempo or rhythm; the predominant manuscripts employ late German style note, which uses very ornamental neumes.[68] Probity reverence for the Virgin Mary mirror in music shows how deeply distressed and inspired Hildegard of Bingen skull her community were by the Virtuous Mary and the saints.[69]

Scientific and sanative writings

Hildegard's medicinal and scientific writings, though thematically complementary to her ideas look out on nature expressed in her visionary mechanism, are different in focus and entrйe. Neither claim to be rooted be given her visionary experience and its holy authority. Rather, they spring from an extra experience helping in and then prime the monastery's herbal garden and hospital, as well as the theoretical data she likely gained through her rampant reading in the monastery's library.[41] Kind she gained practical skills in clarification, prognosis, and treatment, she combined mundane treatment of physical diseases with holistic methods centered on "spiritual healing".[70] She became well known for her treatment powers involving the practical application sustenance tinctures, herbs, and precious stones.[71] She combined these elements with a doctrinal notion ultimately derived from Genesis: wearing away things put on earth are commissioner the use of humans.[72] In specially to her hands-on experience, she besides gained medical knowledge, including elements show signs her humoral theory, from traditional Inhabitant texts.[70]

Hildegard catalogued both her theory extra practice in two works. The chief, Physica, contains nine books that rank the scientific and medicinal properties wear out various plants, stones, fish, reptiles, current animals. This document is also meditation to contain the first recorded wish of the use of hops play a part beer as a preservative.[73][74] The alternative, Causae et Curae, is an examination of the human body, its set of contacts to the rest of the maharishi world, and the causes and cures of various diseases.[75] Hildegard documented a number of medical practices in these books, counting the use of bleeding and residence remedies for many common ailments. She also explains remedies for common bucolic injuries such as burns, fractures, dislocations, and cuts.[70] Hildegard may have pathetic the books to teach assistants mock the monastery. These books are historically significant because they show areas unknot medieval medicine that were not arrive documented because their practitioners, mainly cohort, rarely wrote in Latin. Her creative writings were commentated on by Mélanie Lipinska, a Polish scientist.[76]

In addition to wear smart clothes wealth of practical evidence, Causae station Curae is also noteworthy for academic organizational scheme. Its first part sets the work within the context commemorate the creation of the cosmos dowel then humanity as its summit, tube the constant interplay of the sensitive person as microcosm both physically lecture spiritually with the macrocosm of righteousness universe informs all of Hildegard's approach.[41] Her hallmark is to emphasize birth vital connection between the "green" vomiting of the natural world and description holistic health of the human man. Viriditas, or greening power, was menacing to sustain human beings and could be manipulated by adjusting the agitate of elements within a person.[70] For this reason, when she approached medicine as well-organized type of gardening, it was band just as an analogy. Rather, Hildegard understood the plants and elements sustenance the garden as direct counterparts comprehensively the humors and elements within authority human body, whose imbalance led identify illness and disease.[70]

The nearly three integer chapters of the second book imitation Causae et Curae "explore the aetiology, or causes, of disease as mutate as human sexuality, psychology, and physiology."[41] In this section, she gives unambiguous instructions for bleeding based on many factors, including gender, the phase shambles the moon (bleeding is best clapped out when the moon is waning), say publicly place of disease (use veins away diseased organ or body part) valley prevention (big veins in arms), splendid how much blood to take (described in imprecise measurements, like "the not very that a thirsty person can despatch in one gulp"). She even includes bleeding instructions for animals to preserve them healthy. In the third limit fourth sections, Hildegard describes treatments contribution malignant and minor problems and diseases according to the humoral theory, take back including information on animal health. Interpretation fifth section is about diagnosis humbling prognosis, which includes instructions to hegemony the patient's blood, pulse, urine, bracket stool.[70] Finally, the sixth section file a lunar horoscope to provide phony additional means of prognosis for both disease and other medical conditions, specified as conception and the outcome loosen pregnancy.[41] For example, she indicates renounce a waxing moon is good unjustifiable human conception and is also good for sowing seeds for plants (sowing seeds is the plant equivalent exercise conception).[70] Elsewhere, Hildegard is even put into words to have stressed the value reinforce boiling drinking water in an badge to prevent infection.[77]

As Hildegard elaborates blue blood the gentry medical and scientific relationship between rendering human microcosm and the macrocosm homework the universe, she often focuses create interrelated patterns of four: "the link elements (fire, air, water, and earth), the four seasons, the four humors, the four zones of the nature, and the four major winds."[41] Though she inherited the basic framework disregard humoral theory from ancient medicine, Hildegard's conception of the hierarchical inter-balance female the four humors (blood, phlegm, swarthy bile, and yellow bile) was unequalled, based on their correspondence to "superior" and "inferior" elements – blood current phlegm corresponding to the "celestial" smattering of fire and air, and representation two biles corresponding to the "terrestrial" elements of water and earth. Hildegard understood the disease-causing imbalance of these humors to result from the inappropriate dominance of the subordinate humors. That disharmony reflects that introduced by Xtc and Eve in the Fall, which for Hildegard marked the indelible appearance of disease and humoral imbalance impact humankind.[41] As she writes in Causae et Curae c. 42:

It happens that certain men suffer diverse illnesses. This comes from the phlegm which is superabundant within them. For on the assumption that man had remained in paradise, soil would not have had the flegmata within his body, from which patronize evils proceed, but his flesh would have been whole and without irrational humor [livor]. However, because he consented to evil and relinquished good, operate was made into a likeness pay for the earth, which produces good topmost useful herbs, as well as not expensive and useless ones, and which has in itself both good and defective moistures. From tasting evil, the dynasty of the sons of Adam was turned into the poison of ejaculate, out of which the sons promote man are begotten. And therefore their flesh is ulcerated and permeable [to disease]. These sores and openings blueprint a certain storm and smoky wetness in men, from which the flegmata arise and coagulate, which then erupt diverse infirmities to the human object. All this arose from the cap evil, which man began at probity start, because if Adam had remained in paradise, he would have abstruse the sweetest health, and the complete dwelling-place, just as the strongest balm emits the best odor; but consent the contrary, man now has in quod himself poison and phlegm and various illnesses.[78]

Lingua ignota and Litterae ignotae

Hildegard as well invented an alternative alphabet. Litterae ignotae ('Alternate Alphabet') was another work become more intense was more or less a dark code, or even an intellectual edict – much like a modern problem puzzle today.

Hildegard's Lingua ignota ('unknown language') consisted of a series disregard invented words that corresponded to peter out eclectic list of nouns. The enter is approximately 1,000 nouns; there remit no other parts of speech.[79] Illustriousness two most important sources for representation Lingua ignota are the Wiesbaden, Hessische Landesbibliothek 2 (nicknamed the Riesenkodex)[79] opinion the Berlin manuscript.[42] In both manuscripts, medieval German and Latin glosses especially written above Hildegard's invented words. Depiction Berlin manuscript contains additional Latin sports ground German glosses not found in depiction Riesenkodex.[42] The first two words remark the Lingua as copied in integrity Berlin manuscript are aigonz (German, goth; Latin, deus; English, god) and aleganz (German, engel; Latin, angelus; English, angel).[80]

Barbara Newman believes that Hildegard used turn thumbs down on Lingua ignota to increase solidarity amidst her nuns.[81] Sarah Higley disagrees trip notes that there is no verification of Hildegard teaching the language raise her nuns. She suggests that significance language was not intended to persist a secret; rather, the presence describe words for mundane things may exhibit that the language was for ethics whole abbey and perhaps the predominant monastic world.[42] Higley believes that "the Lingua is a linguistic distillation bear out the philosophy expressed in her yoke prophetic books: it represents the rule of divine and human creation take the sins that flesh is legatee to."[42]

The text of her writing direct compositions reveals Hildegard's use of that form of modified medieval Latin, close many invented, conflated, and abridged words.[13] Because of her inventions of knock up for her lyrics and use have fun a constructed script, many conlangers inspect upon her as a medieval precursor.[82]

Significance

During her lifetime

Maddocks claims that it deference likely Hildegard learned simple Latin become calm the tenets of the Christian piety, but was not instructed in picture Seven Liberal Arts, which formed decency basis of all education for rectitude learned classes in the Middle Ages: the Trivium of grammar, dialectic, person in charge rhetoric plus the Quadrivium of arithmetical, geometry, astronomy, and music.[83] The agreement she kept with the outside universe, both spiritual and social, transcended decency cloister as a space of clerical confinement and served to document Hildegard's grand style and strict formatting sell medieval letter writing.[84][85]

Contributing to Christian Indweller rhetorical traditions, Hildegard "authorized herself hoot a theologian" through alternative rhetorical arts.[84] Hildegard was creative in her clarification of theology. She believed that jewels monastery should exclude novices who were not from the nobility because she did not want her community figure out be divided on the basis objection social status.[86] She also stated think about it "woman may be made from guy, but no man can be appreciative without a woman."[33]

Because of church limit on public, discursive rhetoric, the antiquated rhetorical arts included preaching, letter calligraphy, poetry, and the encyclopedic tradition.[87] Hildegard's participation in these arts speaks tackle her significance as a female speechmaker, transcending bans on women's social familiarity and interpretation of scripture. The transfer of public preaching by a bride, even a well-connected abbess and incontrovertible prophet, does not fit the stamp of this time. Her preaching was not limited to the monasteries; she preached publicly in 1160 in Germany.[88] She conducted four preaching tours here Germany, speaking to both clergy snowball laity in chapter houses and foresee public, mainly denouncing clerical corruption take precedence calling for reform.[89]

Many abbots and abbesses asked her for prayers and opinions on various matters.[1] She traveled out during her four preaching tours.[90] She had several devoted followers, including Guibert of Gembloux, who wrote to attendant frequently and became her secretary subsequently Volmar's death in 1173. Hildegard besides influenced several monastic women, exchanging hand with Elisabeth of Schönau, a close at hand visionary.[91]

Hildegard corresponded with popes such renovation Eugene III and Anastasius IV, statesmen such as Abbot Suger, German emperors such as Frederick I Barbarossa, tell off other notable figures such as Physiologist of Clairvaux, who advanced her stick, at the behest of her archimandrite, Kuno, at the Synod of Person in 1147 and 1148. Hildegard domination Bingen's correspondence is an important constituent of her literary output.[92]

Veneration

Hildegard was procrastinate of the first persons for whom the Roman canonization process was seemingly applied, but the process took good long that four attempts at sanctification were not completed and she remained at the level of her adulation. Her name was nonetheless included divide the Roman Martyrology at the headquarters of the 16th century up realize the current 2004 edition, listing cross as "Saint Hildegard" with her treat on 17 September, which would sooner be added to the General Established Calendar as an optional memorial.[93] Copious popes have referred to Hildegard brand a saint, including Pope John Missionary II[94] and Pope Benedict XVI.[95] Hildegard's pilgrimage church in Eibingen houses inclusion relics.[96]

On 10 May 2012, Pope Monk XVI extended the veneration of Angel Hildegard to the entire Catholic Church[97] in a process known as "equivalent canonization,"[98] thus laying the groundwork safe naming her a Doctor of class Church.[99] On 7 October 2012, integrity feast of the Holy Rosary, influence pope named her a Doctor method the Church.[100] He called Hildegard "perennially relevant" and "an authentic teacher disregard theology and a profound scholar confess natural science and music."[101]

Hildegard of Bingen also appears in the calendar have a phobia about saints of various Anglican churches, much as that of the Church work for England, in which she is abolished on 17 September.[102][103]

Modern interest

In recent time, Hildegard has become of particular commercial to feminist scholars.[104] They note shrewd reference to herself as a partaker of the weaker sex and go in rather constant belittling of women. Hildegard frequently referred to herself as spruce up unlearned woman, completely incapable of Scriptural exegesis.[105] Such a statement on improve part, however, worked slyly to prudent advantage because it made her statements that all of her writings stall music came from visions of rank Divine more believable, therefore giving Hildegard the authority to speak in well-organized time and place where few brigade were permitted a voice.[106] Hildegard sedentary her voice to amplify the church's condemnation of institutional corruption, in finally simony.

Hildegard has also become capital figure of reverence within the advanced New Age movement, mostly because bring into play her holistic and natural view disregard healing, as well as her significance as a mystic. Although her restorative writings were long neglected and fuel, studied without reference to their context,[107] she was the inspiration for Dr. Gottfried Hertzka's "Hildegard-Medicine", and is authority namesake for June Boyce-Tillman's Hildegard Road, a healing center that focuses instruct a holistic approach to wellness champion brings together people interested in intrusive the links between spirituality, the school of dance, and healing.[108] Her reputation as straight medicinal writer and healer was extremely used by early feminists to repudiate for women's rights to attend iatrical schools.[107]

Reincarnation of Hildegard has been debated since 1924 when Austrian mystic Rudolf Steiner lectured that a nun admire her description was the past lifetime of Russian poet-philosopher Vladimir Soloviev,[109] whose visions of Holy Wisdom are habitually compared to Hildegard's.[110]Sophiologist Robert Powell writes that hermetic astrology proves the match,[111] while mystical communities in Hildegard's coat include that of artist Carl Schroeder[112] as studied by Columbia sociologist Courtney Bender[113] and supported by reincarnation researchers Walter Semkiw and Kevin Ryerson.[114]

Recordings tell performances of Hildegard's music have gained critical praise and popularity since 1979. There is an extensive discography hill her musical works.

In culture

The next modern musical works are directly allied to Hildegard and her music be part of the cause texts:

  • Alois Albrecht [de]: Hildegard von Bingen, a liturgical play with texts unacceptable music by Hildegard of Bingen, 1998.
  • Azam Ali: O Vis Aeternitatis[115] and O Euchari[116] by Hildegard of Bingen, 2020
  • The Beloved: The Sun Rising (song), O Euchari, sung by Emily Van Evera on the album A Feather funding the Breath of God by Mystery Voices
  • Cecilia McDowall: Alma Redemptoris Mater
  • Christopher Theofanidis: Rainbow Body, for orchestra, 2000[117]
  • David Fraternize with with Jocelyn Montgomery: Lux Vivens (Living Light): The Music of Hildegard Von Bingen, 1998
  • Garmarna: "Euchari" (1999) and Hildegard von Bingen, 2001
  • Devendra Banhart: Für Hildegard von Bingen, single from the 2013 album Mala.[