Legacy of Christian Feminism
Weave of Faith Christian Feminist Community has created
what is referred to in Christian Feminism as Women Church -- from which
its participants (women, children, and men) find empowerment to impact their
individual lives and communities. Inter-faith and inter-generational, we've
been gathering since 1994 as a alternative worshipping community.
Christian Feminism : "A movement for women's equality
rooted in Scripture and Christian faith."
The seeds were planted with the first wave of the early Woman's Movement
over 100 years ago.
The legacy of Christian Feminism rests farther back than
that, with women spiritual leaders such as Julian of Norwich and Hildegard
of Bingen. Some say, even farther back that that with the biblical Eve,
with her quest for knowledge; and Miriam, co-leader with her brother, Moses,
of the Exodus; and Mary of Magdalene, apostle to the apostles.
It is interesting to note that one influential woman in
the history of religion in America, transcendentalist Margaret Fuller, hosted
very influential gatherings for women called, simply, "Conversations."
One of our goals is to educate others about the rich legacy
of contributions women have made (and continue to make) to women in religion.
Thus, we want to feature women spiritual leaders.
We begin with Hildegard of Bingen.
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Hildegard von Bingen
(1098-1179)
Hildesjahr 1998
Celebrating the 900th Year Anniversary of Hildegard's birth
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Chronology of
Hildegard's Life and Work
1098
The last of 10 children, Hildegard was born to a noble German
family in Bermersheim, not far from Mainz
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- 1106
Jutta, daughter of Count von Sponheim, took the vow of anchoress,
or recluse, housed and fed by the male monastery of Disibodenberg; Hildegard's
parents entrusted her care and upbringing to Jutta.
- 1106-1136
- A few other women joined Jutta's hermitage, forming a small enclosed
community living according to the Rule of St. Benedict within the walls
of Disibodenberg, and obedient to Abbot Kuno. At age 14 or 15, Hildegard
was formally professed a Benedictine nun.
- 1136
- At the death of Jutta, Hildegard was elected to lead the community
of women.
- 1141
- Hildegard was summoned in a vision to "tell and write"
what she "saw and heard" in her visions; frightening periods
of illness recurred. Her confessor and priest, Volmar, and a sister nun,
Rikkarda von Stade, provided moral support, and Hildegard began writing.
- "When I was 42 years and seven months old, a burning light
of tremendous brightness coming from heaven poured into my entire mind,
like a flame that does not burn but enkindles. It inflamed my entire heart
and breast, like the sun that warms an object with its rays. All at once
I was able to taste of the understanding of books -- the Psalter, the Evangelists,
and the books of the Old and new Testaments."
- 1141-1151
- With Volmar as secretary, Hildegard recorded her first book of
visions, eventually entitled Scivias. The last of these visions
includes the texts of fourteen liturgical songs composed by Hildegard as
well as a rudimentary version of what eventually became her Ordo Virtutum
(Play of the Virtues), a sung morality play and the earliest of
its type. In 1146 or 1147 Hildegard, in a letter to Bernard of Clairvaux,
sought confirmation of the prophetic call that prompted her to write.
- 1147-1148
- At the synod of Trier, on the recommendation of Bernard and the
archbishop of Mainz, Pope Eugenius III reviewed a portion of the Scivias
with the synod members. They confirmed the truth of the work, and the pope
sent a letter of apostolic blessing and protection to Hildegard at Disibodenberg.
Hildegard determined to establish an independent convent for her women
-- an anomaly -- and received visions supporting its establishment on a
desolate mountain containing ruins of a 9th-century religious foundation
of St. Rupert. The monks of Disibodenberg, led by Abbot Kuno, opposed the
move. Hildegard sought help from Archbishop Henry of Mainz and Marchioness
Richardis von Stade. Because of the conflict, Hildegard experienced paralyzing
illness, witnessed by Abbot Kuno, which "miraculously abated"
when consent was given.
1148
- With the purchase of the land, construction was begun at Rupertsberg.
Relying on gifts of land and the transference of dowries already given
by the families of her nuns, Hildegard initiated a protracted struggle
for her community's economic and spiritual independence.
- 1150
- Hildegard and 20 nuns moved to Rupertsberg, where she served as
abbess. Volmar, Hildegard's trusted secretary-scribe and the priest necessary
for celebrating Mass, was the only man to accompany them.
- Over the next quarter century, she will write an extraordinary
number of works about the role of humankind in the divine plan from creation
to redemption. There will be two more volumes of visions and prophecies
: The Book of Life's Merits (a handbook on life in which sins are
directly opposed to virtues) and The Book of Divine Works (in which
the mysteries of creation are revealed as the works of the transcendent
Creator God. She will produce two scientific studies on nature and medicine.
For her nuns she will compose 77 liturgical songs. As late as her 72nd
year, Hildegard was traveling in the Rhineland, preaching the clergy and
lay people about the need for reform in the church.
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- In the last year of her life she faced the most difficult fight
of all. She buried in the convent's cemetery a young, excommunicated noble
revolutionary, thus breaking ecclesiastical law in giving him burial in
hallowed ground. The bishops commanded her to dig up the corpse; she refused,
saying the youth had confessed and had died in grace and communion. Her
house is interdicted, and she and her sisters are deprived of the Mass,
the sacraments and the music inspired and sustained them.
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Hildegard never gave up. Months before her death her rights were
restored. This triumph led her to write one of her most moving letters
: on the vital importance of music to an ethical and spiritual life. On
September 17, 1179, at the age of 81, Hildegard von Bingen died. Her work
lives on.
Sources : The Journal of Hildegard of Bingen
- Barbara Lachman
Hildegard von Bingen: Art and the Spirit -
Tom Hoving
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Internet Resources
- The
Life and Works of Hildegard von Bingen
Extensive information with excellent commentary. Biography. Major Works.
Bibliography. Discography. Created by Kristina Lerman at UCSB
"Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was a remarkable woman,
a "first" in many fields. At a time when few women wrote, Hildegard,
known as "Sybil of the Rhine", produced major works of theology
and visionary writings. When few women were accorded respect, she was consulted
by and advised bishops, popes, and kings. She used the curative powers
of natural objects for healing, and wrote treatises about natural history
and medicinal uses of plants, animals, trees and stones. She is the first
composer whose biography is known. She founded a vibrant convent, where
her musical plays were performed. Although not yet canonized, Hildegard
has been beatified, and is frequently referred to as St. Hildegard. Revival
of interest in this extraordinary woman of the middle ages was initiated
by musicologists and historians of science and religion. Less fortunately,
Hildegard's visions and music had been hijacked by the New Age movement,
whose music bears some resemblance to Hildegard's ethereal airs. Her story
is important to all students of medieval history and culture and an inspirational
account of an irresistible spirit and vibrant intellect overcoming social,
physical, cultural, gender barriers to achieve timeless transcendence.
"
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- Hildegard
of Bingen : Prophetess of Her Time
Good overview of her work
- Biographical
article from the Catholic Encyclopedia
- Judy
Lindsay's Paupercula Feminae Formato (University
of Glasgow)
Judy Lindsay's "Paupercula Feminae Formato" is a "multimedia
analysis of the political, spiritual and artistic contributions" of
Hildegard, including an introduction to Hildegard, a chronology of her
life, a list of her works (music, letters, visions and a medical treatise)
and a bibliography of works used in the project. Impressive site, the results
of an honors project.
- Museum
of Women in Science & Technology Distinguished Women of Past and Present
(Philosophy / Medicine) - Hildegard
"She taught medicine and theology, writing an
encyclopedia of natural history, which eventually became known as the "Physica"
which was used as a text for the Montpellier medical school. Among her
other works were the "Liver Divinorum Simplicis Hominis," a work
of visionary cosmology, and "Causae et Curae" (Liber Compositae
Medicinae), a medical work including theory and remedies."
- 4000 Years
of Women in Science - Hildegard
(Site for youth)
- Illuminations
of Hildegard of Bingen
Matthew Fox's interpretation. (Published by: Bear &
Co.) A commercial link that provides a brief overview of Hildegard's life
and work, with connections to Matthew Fox's commentary. Nice examples of
her illuminations.
- Hildegard
of Bingen: Biographical and Historical Resources
Listing of helpful links produced in conjunction
with The Greenest Branch Conference.
- Site created
by the Diocese of Trier, Germany (German)
Viele interessante Informationen zu den Stationen ihres Lebens, ihren Werke
und ihrer heutigen Bedeutung haben wir im folgenden für Sie zusammengestellt.
- Women
Writers - Hildegard
Bonnie Duncan's site, English Department, Millersville
University.
Focusing on primarily on Hildegard's music, but wonderful connections to
full-color illustrations.
Texts of Visions, Poetry, Poetics and Spirituality. General sites on medieval
music and Hildegard's role as a composer.
- Traces
of Hildegard in Today's Bingen - (English)
- Map
(large) of sites in Bingen (German)
"Auf den Spuren der hl. Hildegard durch Bingen"
- Gottesgarten,
Weltenrad und Uhrwerk von Regine Kather (German)
Article from TIGHTROPE: DIGITAL JOURNAL, School of Fine Arts, Saarbrücken,
Germany.
"Eineinhalbjahrtausende nach Platon verwandelt Hildegard von Bingen
im Mittelalter die Metapher des Organismus auf eigentümliche Weise:
Der Kosmos erscheint als Welten-rad."
- Discography and Bibliography
of Popular Books about Hildegard.
- The Greenest
Branch Site Index
- The Journal
of Hildegard of Bingen: Inspired by a Year in the Life of the Twelfth-century
Mystic: A Novel
Excerpts of the historical novel by Barbara Lachman.
- Bison Publishing-Resource
page-Hildegard
A commercial site that demonstrates the current popularity
in Hildegard.
"Hildegard seems to be asserting her presence in the lives and hearts
of many people these days...Ahead of her time philosophically and musically,
she emphasized the feminine characteristics of God, fought church corruption,
and was an anti-war activist. She represents a bridge between Christian
spirituality and pre-patriarchal spiritualities."
- Hildegard
Bingen - Disibodenberg
The ruins of the monastery are near Odernheim. A group of Irish monks settled
here in the latter half of the 7th century. It was built in the early Gothic
style, and the church was huge - its outline can still be seen.
It was here that Hildegard began to write down her visions. The women's
quarters were very small, and Hildegard finally obtained permission to
move to Bingen.
- Einzelne Heilsteine
bei Hildegard von Bingen
Excerpts from the ' stone sections ' of Hildegard's
Physica (German)
- Hildegard von
Bingen - esoterika- und heilsteine-versand (German)
Unique presentation of little-seen works
- Hildegard
von Bingen - A discography of attributed works
- Hildegard of Bingen:
Cosmic Christ, Religion of Experience, God the Mother
Commentary by Matthew Fox, Institute in Culture and Creation
Spirituality - Holy Names College, Oakland, CA
- Ordo
Virtutum-13 th Vision
Part of Bonnie Duncan's work at Millersville University on
Women Writers of the Middle Ages
- Dominion & Domination
of the Gentle Sex: The Lives of Medieval Women ThinkQuest
is an annual contest that challenges Students, ages 12 to 19, to use the
Internet as a collaborative, interactive teaching and learning tool. These
pages on medieveal women was one of the "winning" entries, which
helps to put in context the life and accomplishments of Hildegard.
- Bischöfliches
Dom- und Dioezesmuseum, Mainz- (German)
Diocesan Museum which is sponsoring a major exhibit on Hildegard
If you cannot link from the Museum's homepage to the Hildegard exhibit
try <http://www.dommuseum-mainz.de/hildeg1.htm>
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See also Bibliography & Resources.
Contact us to share resources, organize
a Women's Worshipping Community network,
or if you have questions
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Last updated : Feb. 17, 2005
Copyright © 2005 S.J. Gess. All Rights Reserved
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