Saint Hildegard Painting

Saint Hildegard is a patron saint of writers, herbalists and musicians.

Saint Hildegard, also known as Saint Hildegard of Bingen, was a German Benedictine abbess, writer, composer, philosopher, Christian mystic and visionary. She is considered to be one of the most remarkable women of Middle Ages and her works continue to inspire people even today.

Born in 1098 in Bermersheim, Germany, Saint Hildegard was the tenth child of a noble family. As a young girl, she was offered as a tithe to the church and entered into religious life at the age of eight. She lived in different Benedictine monasteries throughout her life, ultimately founding her own monastery in Rupertsberg.

Saint Hildegard is best known for her writings and visions, which she recorded in three volumes: Scivias, Liber Vitae Meritorum, and Liber Divinorum Operum. These works cover a wide range of subjects from theology to medicine, botany to cosmology. Her visions were often accompanied by intense physical sensations and were considered to be divinely inspired.

In addition to her writings, Saint Hildegard was also a composer and musician. She wrote over 70 liturgical songs, known as the Symphonia armonie celestium revelationum (Symphony of the Harmony of Celestial Revelations), which are still performed and recorded today.

Saint Hildegard's contributions to theology, science, music, and philosophy were ahead of her time and continue to be studied and appreciated. She was also known for her humanitarian work, caring for the sick and poor in her community.

In 2012, Saint Hildegard was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI and declared a Doctor of the Church, making her only the fourth woman to receive this title. Her feast day is celebrated on September 17th.

Saint Hildegard's legacy continues to inspire and influence people in various fields, making her a true renaissance woman of the Middle Ages. She serves as a reminder that women have always played important roles in shaping history and their contributions should never be overlooked or forgotten. So let us honor Saint Hildegard by continuing to learn from her wisdom and teachings, and by recognizing the power and potential of women throughout history and in our world today.