“May the Holy Spirit enkindle you with the fire of His Love so that you may persevere, unfailingly, in the love of His service.”
REAL HEROES! – Saint Hildegard of Bingen
Hildegard was born the 10th child to noble parents in 1098 in Bockelheim, West Franconia of what is now Germany. Even from early on, she was very sick and her parents promised her to God. They then placed her in the care of the Benedictine nun, Blessed Jutta, in the Diocese of Speyer at the age of 8.
She was taught how to read and sing the Latin psalms. Her holiness and strong piety made her adored by all who met her. Even at her early age, she experienced visions from God.
At 18, she became a Benedictine nun at the Monastery of Saint Disibodenberg and after Jutta had died, Hildegard was elected the superior.
Her unique nature and strong devotion attracted many novices to the convent. The rapid growth alarmed her.
She was quickly recognized for her immense knowledge of all things faithful, music, and natural science, with knowledge in medicinal arts, despite no formal education, and not knowing how to write. She is also the founder of scientific natural history in Germany. She noted that her insight was communicated from God through frequent visions. She was assigned a monk to document everything she saw.
Her accounts were submitted to the bishop, who acknowledged them and they were later brought to Pope Eugenius III and her fame spread throughout Europe. People traveled near and far to hear her speak and seek help. She constantly rebuked princes and bishops in a fearless manner when she did not approve of their actions. She wrote more than 300 letters to kings and popes with prophecies and warnings.
She also became important with music, having composed the majority of surviving chant compositions and the most recorded in modern history.
With 18 others, she found a new Benedictine house near Bingen in 1148 and later established a convent in Eibingen in 1165, at the age of 68, under Divine command.
She died at the age of 81 on September 17, 1179. She has been declared a Doctor of the Church, the 4th woman of 35 to be given that title.
She is the patron saint of ecology, musicians and writers.
Her feast day is September 17.
For God’s Glory.
