Her Name was Hildegard
By Mary Frances Myler,
The Church confers the title of “Doctor of the Church” to saints who have made great theological contributions to the Christian tradition and lived lives of extraordinary holiness. Since the 13th century, the popes have honored such influential theologians as Augustine, Jerome, Thomas Aquinas, Francis de Sales, John of the Cross, and many others. Among these notable saints, four women have been named doctors of the Church. Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, and Thérèse of Lisieux are familiar figures, but Hildegard of Bingen, the fourth female doctor of the Church, remains unknown to most Catholics.
For those who know of her, however, Hildegard captures the imagination. Dr. Katie Bugyis, a professor and an award-winning historian of Christian theology and liturgical practice, was entranced by her first encounter with Hildegard. Dr. Bugyis first read Hildegard’s works as a senior at the University of Notre Dame, and she completely shifted the direction of her senior thesis so that she could work on the saint’s writings. I recently spoke with Dr. Bugyis to learn more about the fascinating life of Hildegard of Bingen.
“She was just a phenom during her day!” Dr. Bugyis shared. “There were women who were writing theological works at her time, but in the sense of writing a compendium of theology and thinking more comprehensively about the major theological questions – Hildegard covers all of that. She was treated as a real theological guide during her time.”
Early Life
Born in 1098, Hildegard lived in medieval Germany and was perfectly situated to participate in the prolific theological discussions of her time. Her family was likely lower nobility, but they had many children. As the youngest daughter, there was no money for Hildegard’s dowry, so she was sent at a young age to live with an anchoress attached to a male monastic community.
From a very young age, Hildegard experienced visions. While she only began writing about her visions much later in life, Hildegard’s spiritual life and theological insights were continuously shaped by these divine revelations.
Over time, women joined Hildegard and the anchoress in their life of prayer. Upon the anchoress’s death, Hildegard was elected as the leader of the growing community. In her late thirties, Hildegard felt called by God to move the community and establish themselves independently of the neighboring monks. She founded the St. Rupertsberg monastery and established a second monastery at nearby Eibingen some years later.
“By all accounts, Hildegard was just a force of nature as an abbess. It was amazing just how much she thought about her role as an abbess, as a leader of women,” Dr. Bugyis commented. Hildegard’s pastoral instinct helped her provide answers to the theological questions posed by her fellow nuns. Dr. Bugyis noted that her theology was quite practical and artfully addressed the needs of her community while also enriching the broader Christian tradition.
Scholastic Milestones
Hildegard wrote three major mystical theological treatises: Scivias, The Book of Life’s Merits, and The Book of Divine Love. She developed these texts over decades, diligently working to recount her visions and provide a kind of exegesis on the theological richness of her divine encounter.
Because of her visions, Hildegard saw herself in close relation to the prophetic tradition of the Old Testament. God worked through her, giving her an instrumental role in the activity of his divine love within her community. Dr. Bugyis shared: “In the saint’s life that was written about her, her hagiographer likens her to Deborah from the Book of Judges. He makes the point that this is significant because Deborah means bee in Hebrew. Hildegard is this ‘bee’ figure within her community, and there is a divine mellifluousness and honeyed sweetness that comes through the prophetic words she has to offer.”
Yet, Hildegard did not only possess theological brilliance; she was a true polymath who produced work in a variety of fields. She wrote a book which examines the workings of the natural world, composed a medical handbook, and even devised her own language. She was also a gifted musician. “She composed all these extraordinary chants – from sequences to antiphons to hymns,” said Dr. Bugyis. “There was very little that she didn’t end up doing. She’s kind of a marvel.” Every sphere of human activity offered a unique revelation of God’s goodness, and Hildegard immersed herself in a multitude of interests.
Hildegard also fused contemplative life with one of action. She traveled throughout her life—even in her old age. When she was seventy, she went on preaching tours, traveling up and down the Rhine River to teach against a major heresy that had cropped up in Germany.
A Woman of Conviction
In the midst of her theological and academic pursuits, pastoral ministry, and life of prayer, Hildegard’s life was characterized by fidelity to God and to the truth. Dr. Bugyis noted one episode in her life which captures the essence of Hildegard’s spirit and portrays a snapshot of the hardships she and her community endured for the sake of the truth:
Something that has always amazed me about Hildegard is the courage of her convictions. Just two years before she died, there was a man who was buried on the monastery’s land in the cemetery of the community. It was said that this man had been excommunicated from the Church, and that he actually needed to be disinterred from the cemetery because he shouldn’t be buried in consecrated ground. Hildegard insisted that he had confessed before he died, and therefore had died in a state of grace and deserved to be buried in her cemetery. And so, she refused to have him disinterred.
As punishment for Hildegard’s refusal, she and her community were placed under interdict, which meant they could no longer sing the Divine Office—which Dr. Bugyis described as “the very soul of their life together as a community”—and were unable to receive the Eucharist. Hildegard fought this decision for more than a year, and she eventually won. She knew that the man rightfully deserved to be buried in holy ground, and she refused to compromise on a matter of truth.
“I’m struck by the courage that she had. That’s something that I carry with me,” Dr. Bugyis noted. “And now she is celebrated as a saint and a doctor of the Church. This really courageous woman – who during the time was likely seen to be someone who was bucking the system – was sure that she was right. And the Church of her day came to see that too.”
A Recent Saint
Surely, such an incredible life should be celebrated by the Church. So why does Hildegard’s name remain all-but-unknown to most Catholics?
While Hildegard was highly regarded and widely respected in her day, her cause for canonization took a lengthy and unpredictable route. Dr. Bugyis explained, “Her community really wanted her to become a saint – so much so that they were getting the process started while she was still living. But her dossier was lost en route to Rome after her death in 1179. It wasn’t until 2011 that Pope Benedict XVI canonized her and, a few months after, named her a doctor of the Church.” Chance prevented Hildegard’s timely canonization, but she nonetheless influenced the theological atmosphere of the Christian tradition.
Today, Hildegard is one of the four female doctors of the Church. Her life and writings offer wisdom to the Church, displaying the rich complexity of life with Christ. “It’s amazing – for Hildegard, Catherine, Teresa, and Therese, we have so many writings so we can really see the complexities of their character. They’re not one-dimensional. I love that about these women. We can really see them as human beings, and that’s exactly what the saints are,” said Dr. Bugyis. “Hildegard is someone I come back to. She’s always right at the front of my mind. Whenever I get the chance to talk about her, I do.”
Further Resources
Hildegard’s life and writings capture the imagination. Dr. Bugyis recommends listening to Hildegard’s music as a unique way to explore her contributions to the Church. This brief concert showcases some of her stunning compositions, which are easily accessible online. Additionally, the following resources can be explored to learn more about the fourth female doctor of the Church:
Vision – a German film biopic of St. Hildegard’s life
Sister of Wisdom by Barbara Newman
Voice of the Living Light by Barbara Newman
Hildegard of Bingen by Honey Meconi
International Society of Hildegard von Bingen Studies
