A favorite icebreaker at social gatherings is asking guests to name eight to ten people, living or dead, they would invite to a dream dinner party. Alongside figures like Jesus Christ, Buddha, and Carl Jung, one of my must-have guests would be Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179), known as Blessed Hildegard in the Catholic Church.

Blessed Hildegard was a German Benedictine abbess, mystic, composer, writer, and polymath who made extraordinary contributions to music, medicine, theology, and natural sciences. She was one of the first named female composers, creating ethereal, innovative sacred music. Her visionary theological writings, based on mystical experiences, were highly influential, and she was later canonized and declared a Doctor of the Church. Additionally, she wrote extensively on healing, herbal medicine, and the natural world, blending scientific observation with spiritual insight. Her genius spanned multiple disciplines, making her a true Renaissance woman centuries ahead of her time.

Hildegard documented her visions and prophecies through text and illuminations, the most famous being Scivias, written over the course of ten years. It is a beautiful work, but what has delighted and engaged me most is Hildegard’s music. I bought Vision: The Music of Hildegard von Bingen, a contemporary production of her music, some time last year. The combination of native beats and new age arrangements with her “plainsong” style is wonderful. However, if you’re more of a traditionalist, each of the music streaming services offer several different arrangements and productions of Blessed Hildegard’s music. Try out the music samples for a real, uplifting treat from an exceptional woman.

It amazes me that a woman who had so few options was able to do so much with her life. By the end of her long, robust life she was an advisor to kings, princes, and popes; she had run two abbeys and experienced numerous visions and conversations with God, and produced extensive works as a medical healer and naturalist.  Living in an age where western women have unparalleled opportunities but make much less use of them, I’m an admirer of the women who came before us like feminine John the Baptists. They made it possible for us to have the means of wholeness, freedom, love, and meaning at our fingertips, even though we are daughters of Eve.

A blessed hildegard sampler

Then I saw in the secret places in the heights of Heaven two armies of heavenly spirits who shone with great brightness. Those in one of the armies had on their breasts wings, with forms like human forms in front of them, on which human features showed as if in clear water.

Those in the second army also had wings on their breasts, which displayed forms like human forms, in which the image of the Son of Man shone as if in a mirror. [. . .] these armies were arrayed like a crown around the others [. . .] they burned like fire, and had many wings, in which they showed as if in a mirror all the Church ranks arrayed in order. And I saw no other shape either in these or in the others.

And all these armies were singing with marvelous voices all kinds of music about the wonders that God works in blessed souls, and by this God was magnificently glorified.

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O Holy Fire which soothes the spirit
O fire of the spirit which I have tried
life force of all creation
holiness you are in living form

You are a holy ointment
for perilous injuries
You are holy in cleansing
the fetid wound.

O breath of holiness
O fire of loving
O sweet taste in the breast
you fill the heart
with the good aroma of virtues.

O fountain of purity
with whom it is considered
That God made the strangers one with us
and the damned saved.

O robe of life and hope for the companions
our brothers all of the church
and the belt of honesty
save the blessed.

Caring for all those
who are held down by enemies
and dissolve the restraints.
whom the divine will save and free.

O path of strength
that enters all places
in the high places and in the plains
and in all the depths
you call and unify all.

From you the smoke flows,
the ether files,
jewels have their qualities
water streams shown their way
and earth made green and fresh.You always teach comprehending
by inspirational wisdom with happiness.

Praise be to you,
who is the sound of praise,
and joy of life, hope and noble strength
giving the premium of the light.