Inside God's Breathing

Hildegard of Bingen first witnessed what she called "The Shade of the Living Light" at age three. By the age of five, she was experiencing visions of God regularly through her five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, taste. Recognized as the founder of scientific natural history in Germany and a saint in the Catholic church, Hildegard wrote one of the largest bodies of letters to survive the Middle Ages, and her wisdom reverberates notably in our 21st-century challenges.

Born a sickly youngest and tenth child in 1098 in Germany, Hildegard lived a full 81 years as a Benedictine abbess and avid learner whose writings and musical compositions still impact our culture today. Hildegard explored theology, botany, and medicine in her writings, and she also left behind one of the fullest repertoires of Medieval musical compositions. From her earliest memories, Hildegard's relationship with God was grounded in "reflections of the living light."

Ponder these words from her composition Symphonia:

O Beloved,

your way of knowing is amazing!

The way you recognize every creature

even before it appears.

The way you gaze into the face of every human being

and see all your works gazing back at you.

O what a miracle

to be awake

inside your breathing.

The Catholic church celebrates September 17 as the Feast Day for Saint Hildegard of Bingen, and scholars today are still awed by her wide-ranging interests and impressive lifetime accomplishments, particularly as a woman in the Middle Ages. As you move through your week, how will you encounter the Lord's gaze? How will you find moments to recognize the miracle of existing within God's breathing?

Peace to you,

Jennie