{"id":9984,"date":"2026-09-14T11:25:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T09:25:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/predication.net\/?p=9984"},"modified":"2026-09-14T11:25:07","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T09:25:07","slug":"st-hildegard-of-bingen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/predication.net\/?p=9984","title":{"rendered":"St. Hildegard of Bingen"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/h2>\n

Dear brothers and sisters,<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Today the Church invites us to remember an extraordinary woman: St. Hildegard of Bingen<\/strong>, a Benedictine abbess, mystic, theologian, writer, composer, and Doctor of the Church. She lived in the 12th century, yet many aspects of her spiritual message remain remarkably relevant today.<\/h2>\n

Hildegard teaches us above all one important truth: when a person opens his or her heart completely to God, God can accomplish extraordinary things through an ordinary human life.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hildegard was born in Germany in 1098. From childhood she had a profound sensitivity to the presence of God. Later she entered religious life and eventually became an abbess. She received mystical visions, but for many years she hesitated to speak about them. She did not seek attention. She did not want to become famous. She wanted simply to belong to God.<\/h2>\n

Eventually, however, she understood that the gifts God had given her were not meant only for herself. They were meant for others.<\/h2>\n

This is already an important lesson for us.<\/h2>\n

God has given something to every one of us. Perhaps we do not have mystical visions. Perhaps we cannot write books or compose music. But everyone has received gifts: the ability to encourage someone, to listen, to pray, to forgive, to teach, to care for another person, or simply to remain faithful when life becomes difficult.<\/h2>\n

The question is not: \u201cDo I have extraordinary gifts?\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The question is: \u201cAm I using what God has given me?\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hildegard lived at a time when women had very little public influence. Yet she corresponded with popes, bishops, abbots, kings, and emperors. She was not afraid to tell powerful people the truth. When she saw corruption or spiritual weakness in the Church, she spoke clearly about it.<\/h2>\n

Where did this courage come from?<\/h2>\n

It came from her relationship with God.<\/h2>\n

A person who wants to please everybody will eventually become afraid of everybody. But a person who wants above all to please God becomes inwardly free.<\/h2>\n

Hildegard reminds us that holiness does not mean weakness. A saint can be gentle and at the same time courageous. Humility does not mean remaining silent when truth must be spoken. True humility means that we no longer place ourselves at the center. God is at the center.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Another beautiful aspect of Hildegard’s spirituality was her vision of creation. She saw the whole created world as filled with signs of God’s wisdom and goodness. Human beings, animals, plants, the earth, music, the human body\u2014all belong to God’s creation.<\/h2>\n

For Hildegard, faith was therefore not something separated from ordinary life. God was not present only in the monastery chapel. His wisdom could be discovered throughout creation.<\/h2>\n

This is something our modern world urgently needs to rediscover.<\/h2>\n

We often divide our lives into two parts: the religious part and the ordinary part. We pray on Sunday, but then on Monday we return to the \u201creal world.\u201d Hildegard would tell us: There is only one world, and it belongs to God.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

God is present when you pray.<\/h2>\n

But God is also present when you work.<\/h2>\n

God is present when you care for a sick person.<\/h2>\n

God is present when you admire the beauty of nature.<\/h2>\n

God is present when you struggle with suffering.<\/h2>\n

God is present when you use your talents for the good of another person.<\/h2>\n

Hildegard often spoke about the spiritual vitality that comes from God. Sin makes the human heart dry and sterile, while God’s grace brings life. This is a powerful image for our spiritual lives.<\/h2>\n

Sometimes our hearts become dry.<\/h2>\n

We lose enthusiasm for prayer. We become disappointed with people. We carry old wounds. We become tired of doing good because we do not see results. Perhaps we begin merely to fulfill our religious duties without joy.<\/h2>\n

At such moments Christ invites us back to the source.<\/h2>\n

He does not say: \u201cProduce life by your own strength.\u201dHe says: \u201cRemain in me.\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A branch does not produce fruit because it tries harder. It produces fruit because it remains connected to the vine.<\/h2>\n

The same is true for us.<\/h2>\n

Our greatest spiritual problem is often not that we are weak. Our greatest problem is that we try to live without remaining deeply connected to God.<\/h2>\n

Hildegard’s remarkable activity flowed from contemplation. Before she spoke to others about God, she listened to God. Before she advised powerful people, she knelt before the One who is more powerful than all earthly rulers.<\/h2>\n

That order is important.<\/p>\n

First listen. Then speak.
\nFirst pray. Then act.
\nFirst receive from God. Then give to others.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Perhaps this is the invitation St. Hildegard gives us today.<\/h2>\n

We live in a noisy world. Thousands of voices compete for our attention. News, television, phones, social media, advertisements, opinions and worries constantly enter our minds. But among all these voices there is one voice that matters above all others: the voice of God.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

And God usually does not shout.<\/p>\n

We must become quiet enough to hear Him.<\/h2>\n

St. Hildegard listened. And because she listened, her life became fruitful.<\/h2>\n

We may never write theological books. We may never compose sacred music. We may never advise popes or emperors. But we can become saints.<\/h2>\n

And in the end, that is what matters.<\/h2>\n

At the end of our lives God will not ask how famous we became, how many people admired us, or how successful we appeared.<\/h2>\n

He will ask whether we loved.<\/h2>\n

Whether we listened to His voice.<\/h2>\n

Whether we used the gifts He entrusted to us.<\/h2>\n

Whether through our lives someone else experienced a little more hope, a little more goodness, a little more truth, and a little more of God.<\/h2>\n

St. Hildegard of Bingen teaches us to listen to God. Teach us to recognize His presence in creation. Teach us to use our gifts courageously. And teach us to remain so deeply united with Christ that our lives, too, may bear abundant fruit.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear brothers and sisters, Today the Church invites us to remember an extraordinary woman: St. Hildegard of Bingen, a Benedictine abbess, mystic, theologian, writer, composer, and Doctor of the Church. 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