Hildegard of Bingen is as famous for her creative pursuits as she is for the religious orders she founded. She was an inexhaustible musical composer, with one of the largest collections of musical compositions of any medieval composer, male or female. She is also famous for both her theological and scientific writing, plus she was a prolific letter writer. She preached, something highly unusual for a woman in this time period and an indication that she must have had a gift for it.
How did she accomplish so much while also running an abbey? We can find answers in the structure of monastic life. Monastics stopped at specified periods of the day to pray. Even if we can’t do the same, we can use our modern gadgets to help call our attention to prayer. My day goes more smoothly when I ask God to help and guide me.
This message is excerpted from “Praying with medieval mystics” by Kristin Berkey-Abbott in the November 2018 Gather magazine. Today we commemorate Hildegard, Abbess of Bingen, 1179.
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