Hildegardians...People who Redefine Their Culture
February 25th, 2000...
Patroness of Human Potential
The name "Hildegardians" originates from a remarkable woman who was born 900 years ago. Hildegard Von Bingen was born in the middle Rhine region of what is now modern Germany.She was born in 1098 in the village of Bermersheim. Her father was the nobleman, Hildebert of Bermersheim. Her mother was the noblewoman, Mechthild. Hildegard was their tenth and final child. She was gifted from birth. She had an unquenchable desire for learning. She had intuitive and visionary knowledge. Her parents, governess, and others witnessed her spiritual gifts. At five years old, Hildegard looked at a pregnant cow and exclaimed, "Oh, how pretty the calf is! It has spots on its head, and a black back." At the calf's birth, her prediction was confirmed. Hildegard was then perceived to have a spiritual destiny. Therefore, her parents decided to give her (in a sense) back to the Creator. She was "tithed" to a Benedictine monastery. This occurred when she was eight years of age. As difficult and painful as this was to Hildegard, she chose even as a young child not to be a victim. Choosing victory and a life of service, Hildegard can be a model the abandoned children of our century.Hildegard went to the young noble woman and anchorite, Jutta of Sponheim. Jutta sought and lived the life of a religious recluse at the monastery of St. Disibodenberg. She had lived in what is known as a hermitage or anchorage. This was a cell or small room adjoined to the monastery church. It was here an individual could "die" to the world, and live only for Christ.It is believed that Jutta was the blood cousin of Hildegard. Perhaps, when Jutta was a young girl of twelve, she held the baby Hildegard in her arms. Jutta was known to be one of the most beautiful young women in the Rhine. Her first sacrifice was to choose a life as a nun. Her second sacrifice was to invite the young eight-year-old to live with her. Hildegard was loved and taught by Jutta. Jutta became her "venerable mother." Through the balanced Benedictine life, Jutta affirmed and empowered her "little protégé."Hildegard most likely received a broad and diversified intellectual education. Benedictine communities were the educational centers of art and science. Hildegard led an academic and spiritual life. She studied the Christian Scriptures and the cosmos. Today, throughout the world, she is being recognized as one of the most brilliant minds ever to have lived. She had the following careers: astronomer, botanist, theologian, musician, poet, playwright, astronomist artist, pharmacist, theologist, musician, healer, architect, diplomat. and most importantly, prophet.Hildegard was one of the only women in the history of the Roman Catholic Church to receive Papal approval for writing. God "called" her to write down her visions. She did not want to do this. She felt a sense of unworthiness and humility. She also feared the ridicule and emotional abandonment from her Church. However, she would not refuse God's order to obey. Her best friend the monk Volmar, encouraged her to go through the appropriate hierarchical channels. She did. The famous St. Bernard examined her writing. He believed them to be from God. He then showed them to the Pope. The Pope was a gentle and kind man. He had been a former monk. He read exerts from her writing to a Synod of Bishops. It was seen as authentic. She was given the approval of the Papacy. This was equivalent to a type of "blank check" for credibility and creativity. Hildegard and the monks of St. Disibodenberg became celebrated. This amazing woman had an abundance of energy. However, her health was not always good. She suffered from severe headaches. Being empathetic to illness, Hildegard became a scientist and healer. She catalogued and tested plant life for its curative properties. She believed that everything was given a purpose. The purpose for many herbs was healing suffering in other creatures. She also understood of emotional pain. People in the village who was ill, would come to growing community of women for temporal and spiritual healing. Hildegard listened to their voices. She determined that personality was often tied to behavior. She also believed that the Sacrament of Marriage was sacred. Therefore, intimate relationship between husband and wife should reflect the love and goodness of God. It should be enjoyed. The more love and happiness within the marriage, the most positive the disposition of the offspring. She also believed that the seed of the man contained the gender of the offspring. Hildegard also is known as the inventor of dark beer. She also has been credited with the discovery and usage of St. John's Wart for depression. She shared her academic and research on medicinal issues through the writing of two books. The books are called Physica and Cause and Cures. Many of her writings on health and cures represent the creativity and imagination of the Middle Ages.
Dr. Matthew Jaffee and myself recreating during a two week confernce Saint Hildegard and her best friend, the monk Volmar
I found a shepardess crook or staff on an advenure in the UK!
Links to Explore
The story of my www.holycards.com vocation
I believe in having a voice as a customer...Epinions give you this voice
Where I work...what I teach...
Marriage...Partnership
The Our Father in Antique Pictures...
The Angel and the Flower
From A little Carmelite Nun's visual memories...
Winifred Reed...Holy Soul
Prayer to St. Hildegard