dirac Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Reports suggest that the Pope is contemplating the canonization of Hildegarde of Bingen. Props to him, if true! Tornielli reports that Benedict has long felt connected to Hildegard and cites her as an example of a great woman theologian. Rome Reports writes that Benedict dedicated several of his general audiences to this German nun, saying, intriguingly, that she "served the church in an age in which it was wounded by the sins of priests and laity." What seems to elude these reports is that Hildegard was also a powerful abbess during a time when, according to scholar Gary Macy, "abbesses were powerful and acted independently not only of the papacy, but also of the local bishop." She even had a male secretary named Volmar. Related, with musical excerpts. Link to comment
Mashinka Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 Emma Kirkby´s recording of Bingen´s "A Feather on the Breath of God" should be in everyone´s CD collection. Link to comment
dirac Posted December 29, 2011 Author Share Posted December 29, 2011 Thank you, Mashinka. I don't know that recording. Link to comment
perky Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 Since working with gemstones is part of my job I was happily surprised to find out that St. Hildegarde used various gemstones as part of her healing ministry along with herbs and assigning specific diets for many maladies. She was a facinating and awe inspiring woman! Link to comment
dirac Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 Well, she's not "St. Hildegarde" just yet. Abbesses could exercise considerable power in Hildegarde's day. Later, not so much. Link to comment
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