September 17th - St. Hildegard
In 1141, Hildegard had a vision that changed the course of her life. A
vision of
God gave her instant understanding of the meaning of the religious texts,
and
commanded her to write down everything she would observe in her visions.
"And it came to pass ... when I was 42 years and 7 months old, that the
heavens
were opened and a blinding light of exceptional brilliance flowed through
my
entire brain. And so it kindled my whole heart and breast like a flame,
not
burning but warming... and suddenly I understood of the meaning of
expositions
of the books..."
Yet Hildegard was also overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy and hesitated
to
act.
"But although I heard and saw these things, because of doubt and low
opinion of
myself and because of diverse sayings of men, I refused for a long time a
call
to write, not out of stubbornness but out of humility, until weighed down
by a
scourge of God, I fell onto a bed of sickness."
Born at Böckelheim on the Nahe, 1098; died on the Rupertsberg near Bingen,
1179;
feast 17 September. The family name is unknown of this great seeress and
prophetess, called the Sibyl of the Rhine. The early biographers give the
first
names of her parents as Hildebert and Mechtildis (or Mathilda), speak of
their
nobility and riches, but give no particulars of their lives.
Later writers call the saint Hildegard of Böckelheim, of Rupertsberg, or
of
Bingen. Legends would make her a Countess of Spanheim. J. May (Katholik.
XXXVII,
143) shows from letters and other do***ents that she probably belonged to
the
illustrious family of Stein, whose descendants are the present Princes of
Salm.
Her father was a soldier in the service of Meginhard, Count of Spanheim.
Hildegard was a weak and sickly child, and in consequence received but
little
education at home. Her parents, though much engaged in worldly pursuits,
had a
religious disposition and had promised the child to the service of God.
At the age of eight she was placed under the care of Jutta, sister of
Count
Meginhard, who lived as a recluse on the Disenberg (or Disibodenberg,
Mount of
St, Disibod) in the Diocese of Speyer. Here also Hildegard was given but
little
instruction since she was much afflicted with sickness, being frequently
scarcely able to walk and often deprived even of the use of her eyes. She
was
taught to read and sing the Latin psalms, sufficient for the chanting of
the
Divine Office, but never learned to write.
The life of Hildegard as child, religious, and superioress was an
extraordinary
one. Left much to herself on account of her ill health, she led an
interior
life, trying to make use of everything for her own sanctification. From
her
earliest years she was favoured with visions. She says of herself:
"Up to my fifteenth year I saw much, and related some of the things seen
to
others, who would inquire with astonishment, whence such things might
come. I
also wondered and during my sickness I asked one of my nurses whether she
also
saw similar things. When she answered no, a great fear befell me.
Frequently, in
my conversation, I would relate future things, which I saw as if present,
but,
noting the amazement of my listeners, I became more reticent."
This condition continued to the end of her life. Jutta had noticed her
gifts and
made them known to a monk of the neighbouring abbey, but, it seems,
nothing was
done at the time. When about forty years of age Hildegard received a
command to
publish to the world what she saw and heard. She hesitated, dreading what
people
might think or say, though she herself was fully convinced of the Divine
character of the revelations. But, continually urged, rebuked, and
threatened by
the inner voice, she manifested all to her spiritual director, and through
him
to the abbot under whose jurisdiction her community was placed.
Then a monk was ordered to put in writing whatever she related; some of
her nuns
also frequently assisted her. The writings were submitted to the bishop
(Henry,
1145-53) and clergy of Mainz, who pronounced them as coming from God. The
matter
was also brought to the notice of Eugene II (1145-53) who was at Trier in
1147.
Albero of Chiny, Bishop of Verdun, was commissioned to investigate and
made a
favourable re****t. Hildegard continued her writings.
Crowds of people flocked to her from the neighbourhood and from all parts
of
Germany and Gaul, to hear words of wisdom from her lips, and to receive
advice
and help in cor****al and spiritual ailments. These were not only from the
common
people, but men and women of note in Church and State were drawn by the
re****t
of her wisdom and sanctity.
In the last year of her life Hildegard had to undergo a very severe trial.
In
the cemetery adjoining her convent a young man was buried who had once
been
under excommunication. The ecclesiastical authorities of Mainz demanded
that she
have the body removed. She did not consider herself bound to obey since
the
young man had received the last sacraments and was therefore supposed to
have
been reconciled to the Church. Sentence of interdict was placed on her
convent
by the chapter of Mainz, and the sentence was confirmed by the bishop,
Christian
(V) Buch, then in Italy.
After much worry and correspondence she succeeded in having the interdict
removed. She died a holy death and was buried in the church of
Rupertsberg.
Saint Quote
Resist your impatience faithfully, practicing, not only with reason, but
even
against reason, holy courtesy and sweetness to all, but especially to
those who
weary you the most.
--St. Francis de Sales
Bible Quote
14 Now when the apostles, who were in Jerusalem, had heard that Samaria
had
received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John. 15 Who, when
they
were come, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. 16 For
he
was not as yet come upon any of them; but they were only baptized in the
name of
the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received
the
Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:14-17)
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A prayer to the Holy Trinity, from the Raccolta:
Of Thy tender mercy, we beseech Thee, O Lord, loose the
bonds of our sins, and through the intercession of Mary, the
blessed and ever-Virgin Mother of God, together with that of
Saint Joseph and Thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of
all Thy Saints, keep us Thy servants and our dwelling places in
all holiness; cleanse from sin and endue with virtue all those
who are joined to us by kindred, affinity and friend****p; grant
unto us peace and safety; remove far from us our enemies, both
visible and invisible; repress all our carnal desires; grant us
wholesome air; bestow Thy charity upon our friends and
enemies; guard Thy city; preserve our Pontiff N.; defend all
prelates and princes and Thine entire Christian people from
every adversity. Let Thy blessing be evermore upon us, and do
Thou grant unto all the faithful departed rest everlasting.
Amen.
Imprimatur: + Francis Spellman, Archbishop of New York, May 30, 1951.
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