At the crossroads of the spiritual, artistic, and scientific worlds, Hildegard of Bingen, a Benedictine nun, made her mark on the history of health and well-being through her visions, musical compositions, and groundbreaking writings. Her impact is so strong that she is considered the founder of modern naturopathy, and her works are still consulted today. An overview.
A Nun’s Life
Childhood and First Visions
Hildegard of Bingen was born in 1098 in the small village of Bermersheim, in Rhenish Hesse, at the heart of the Holy Roman Empire. The youngest daughter of a noble family, she was dedicated to God from birth, according to a tradition common among aristocratic families of the time. From an early age, Hildegard displayed unusual abilities. At just three years old, she began experiencing mystical visions, which she would later describe as “God’s lights.” Although those experiences were not understood by the people around her, they became the foundation of her spiritual life and shaped her perception of the world.
Entering Religious Life and Spiritual Formation
Source: My Catholic Life
At the age of eight, her parents made a decision that would change the course of her life forever. True to their vow, they entrusted their young daughter to the Benedictine monastery of Disibodenberg, where she was placed under the tutelage of Jutta von Sponheim, a woman of great learning and piety. This decision to remove Hildegard from secular life marked her entry into a life of prayer and meditation. Under Jutta’s guidance, she discovered the Scriptures and monastic practices while continuing to reflect on her visions, which she still largely kept to herself at this stage.
Her Rise: From Nun to Abbess
Over time, Hildegard became fully integrated into the Disibodenberg community and took her perpetual vows. In 1136, following Jutta’s death, she was elected abbess by her fellow sisters and thus became responsible for all the nuns.
A small clarification: Disibodenberg Abbey has the rare distinction of being governed by both an abbot (for the monks) and an abbess (for the nuns, the female equivalent of monks).
This election confirmed her position within the monastery and marked a new stage in her spiritual journey. Drawing on her charisma and intelligence, Hildegard began to emerge as a major figure in the monastic and religious world. She established herself not only as a spiritual guide, but also as a visionary woman, determined to express the messages she received from the divine.
Her Monastic Foundations
In 1150, after obtaining the Church’s support, she decided to establish a new independent monastery at Rupertsberg, near Bingen, a site she carefully chose for its serenity and isolation. This foundation was an ambitious undertaking, as it required substantial financial resources and unwavering determination.
Source: Romantischer Rhein
The monastery quickly became a center of spiritual and cultural influence, as well as an example of success in the religious sphere. It was said to be characterized by perfect harmony and rigorous management.
A few years later, building on this success and responding to growing demand, Hildegard founded a second monastery at Eibingen in 1165. In doing so, she strengthened her influence and gave other women the opportunity to commit themselves to monastic life under her guidance.
Her Major Works
Theological Writings and Mystical Visions
One of the most remarkable aspects of Hildegard of Bingen’s work, and one that would shape her reputation, was her theological writing, inspired by mystical visions that she regarded as divine revelations. Between 1141 and 1151, she wrote her major work, Scivias (“Know the Ways”), a treatise in which she precisely describes and interprets her 26 visionary experiences in the light of Christian theology. Accompanied by detailed illustrations, the text explores themes such as creation, redemption, and the struggle between good and evil, offering a profound and symbolic perspective on faith.
Other works followed, including Liber Vitae Meritorum (Book of the Rewards of Life), which addresses human morality, vices, and virtues, and Liber Divinorum Operum (Book of Divine Works), a theological reflection on the universe and humanity’s place in creation.
Contributions to Music
Hildegard is also renowned for her exceptional musical talent. She composed numerous liturgical songs, collected in the volume Symphonia armoniae celestium revelationum (“Symphony of the Harmony of Celestial Revelations”). Her compositions, distinguished by their melodic originality and exalted lyricism, are considered masterpieces of medieval sacred music.
Among her most famous musical works is Ordo Virtutum, a dramatic piece that may be considered one of the earliest examples of liturgical drama. This musical play depicts a symbolic struggle between the virtues and the forces of evil, represented through Latin chants of striking intensity. Through her music, Hildegard expressed a vibrant spirituality and a cosmic vision of the divine.
Work in Medicine and Natural Sciences
Hildegard of Bingen’s medical works testify to her extensive knowledge of plants, minerals, animals, and their therapeutic properties. They also reflect her holistic view of health, in which the body, mind, and soul are intrinsically connected. Among her major contributions are two fundamental treatises: Physica and Causae et Curae.
Physica, also known as The Book of the Subtleties of the Divine Creatures, is a vast encyclopedia of natural resources and their medicinal uses. Organized into nine books, the work explores the healing properties of plants, animals, and stones while incorporating a spiritual perspective. Hildegard describes each element as a divine creation with a specific function in the balance of nature.
Causae et Curae focuses more closely on the causes of diseases and their treatments. In this work, Hildegard adopted an innovative approach, combining medical knowledge inherited from antiquity with her own observations. She proposed a view in which bodily imbalances reflected spiritual or emotional disorders. She described practical treatments, such as specific diets, baths, and the use of plant-based preparations. She also incorporated concepts related to humoralism, an ancient medical theory according to which health depends on the balance among the body’s four humors: blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm (which originally gave rise to bloodletting as a treatment).
The Lingua Ignota: The Unknown Language
Among the most intriguing aspects of Hildegard’s work is the invention of a constructed language, which she called Lingua Ignota (“Unknown Language”). Made up of previously unknown words and an original alphabet, this language is described in some of her manuscripts. Although the exact purpose of this creation remains the subject of debate, it may have served to express mystical concepts or to provide a unique form of intellectual escape.
The Woman Behind Hops?
A rather unusual legend credits Hildegard with the monasteries’ numerous beer productions. In fact, she did mention hops as a remedy for certain ailments. Since her writings had such a strong influence, this may explain why so many monasteries today have hop fields and produce beer.
At the time, however, these ingredients were used exclusively in medicinal mixtures. They later evolved into this other form of production, undoubtedly providing a new source of income to help sustain these institutions.
A Woman of Influence
Hildegard of Bingen undertook several journeys across western Germany, motivated by what she perceived as divine instructions received during her visions.
Source: Le Pèlerin
These journeys, undertaken between the ages of 60 and 72, took her to cities such as Cologne, Trier, Metz, Mainz, Würzburg, and Bamberg, as well as to various monasteries and abbeys.
During these travels, Hildegard preached publicly, addressing both clergy and laypeople to remind them of God’s ways and combat heretical movements such as Catharism (dissident Christians).
She exchanged numerous letters with prominent figures in the Church and politics, even addressing the pope and the emperor directly. Her authority extended far beyond the walls of her institutions, and she was recognized as a true prophetess of her time. These foundations and her active life bear witness to her visionary genius and unwavering dedication to her spiritual mission.
Hildegard of Bingen’s Legacy
Hildegard of Bingen left her mark on her era and the centuries that followed through the breadth of her influence, both spiritual and intellectual. Even during her lifetime, she enjoyed a reputation that extended far beyond the limits of her monastery. Her correspondence reveals an audacious woman who advised the most powerful people of her time on spiritual, moral, and even political matters, with an authority rarely granted to a woman in the medieval context. She was regarded as a prophetess, and her visions were widely considered divine messages. This public and official recognition allowed her to preach in public, an exceptional practice for a woman of that era.
Source: Saint Hildegard Abbey
After her death in 1179, Hildegard’s influence continued to grow, although her official canonization was delayed. For centuries, she was venerated locally as a saint, but it was not until 2012 that Pope Benedict XVI carried out an equivalent canonization, officially recognizing her status throughout the Catholic Church. That same year, she was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church, a prestigious title recognizing the depth and universality of her spiritual teaching. She thus became one of the few women to receive this distinction, joining figures such as Teresa of Ávila and Catherine of Siena.
