Hildegard of Bingen: Scivias"...these translations thus supersede former ones...if the introductions, translations, and other apparatus of the rest of the series are of the same high quality, the series will be indispensable for most libraries." Library Journal Hildegard of Bingen: Scivias translated by Mother Columbia Hart and Jane Bishop introduced by Barbara J. Newman prefaced by Caroline Walker Bynum I saw a great mountain the color of iron, and enthroned on it. One of such great glory that it blinded my sight. On each side of him there extended a soft shadow, like a wing of wondrous breadth and length. Before him, at the foot of the mountain, stood an image full of eyes on all sides, in which, because of those eyes, I could discern no human form. Hildegard of Bingen(1098-1179) Hildegard of Bingen, twelfth-century German nun, mystic, prophet and political moralist, was widely consulted as an oracle and wrote prolifically on doctrinal matters, as well as on secular matters like medicine, She publicly preached monastic reform, founded two nunneries, and was embroiled in the politics surrounding popes and anti-popes. Scivias, her major religious work, consists of twenty-six visions, which are first se down literally as she saw them, and are the explained exegetically. A few of the topic covered in the visions are the charity of Christ, the nature of the universe, the kingdom of God, the fall of man, sanctification, and the end of the world. Special emphasis is given to the sacraments of marriage and the Eucharist, in response to the Cathar heresy. As a group the visions form a theological summa of Christian doctrine. At the end of the Scivias are hymns of praise and a short play, probably an early draft of Ordo virtutum, the first known morality play. Hildegard is remarkable for being able to unite " vision with doctrine, religion with science, charismatic jubilation with prophetic indignation, and longing for social order with quest for social justice." This volume elucidates the life of medieval women, and is a striking example of a special form of Christian spirituality. + |
From inside the book
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... living in Paris for two years , and later translated Ouvrons la Bible by Roger Poelman ( How to Read the Bible , New York : Kenedy , l953 , and London : Longmans , l955 ) . Her first original book , Mary of the Magnificat , had come out ...
... living in Paris for two years , and later translated Ouvrons la Bible by Roger Poelman ( How to Read the Bible , New York : Kenedy , l953 , and London : Longmans , l955 ) . Her first original book , Mary of the Magnificat , had come out ...
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... of the four- teenth century . A visionary who took her revelations as a text for exegesis , not an experience for re - living , Hildegard was not , technically speaking , a mystic at all . She wrote not about union but PREFACE.
... of the four- teenth century . A visionary who took her revelations as a text for exegesis , not an experience for re - living , Hildegard was not , technically speaking , a mystic at all . She wrote not about union but PREFACE.
Page 10
... living Light " is resounding once more . In Germany she still enjoys a wide popular cult , and the abbey at Eibingen has become a center of scholarship and pilgrimage . Herbalists have rediscovered some of her prescriptions and begun to ...
... living Light " is resounding once more . In Germany she still enjoys a wide popular cult , and the abbey at Eibingen has become a center of scholarship and pilgrimage . Herbalists have rediscovered some of her prescriptions and begun to ...
Page 11
... living Light . " In this light she perceived a variety of figures , ranging from human forms to elaborate architectural models , which she was able to interpret with the aid of a " voice from heaven . " Finally , on rare occasions she ...
... living Light . " In this light she perceived a variety of figures , ranging from human forms to elaborate architectural models , which she was able to interpret with the aid of a " voice from heaven . " Finally , on rare occasions she ...
Page 18
... living Light . " And as the sun , the moon , and the stars appear in water , so writings , sermons , virtues , and certain human actions take form for me and gleam within it . Now whatever I have seen or learned in this vision remains ...
... living Light . " And as the sun , the moon , and the stars appear in water , so writings , sermons , virtues , and certain human actions take form for me and gleam within it . Now whatever I have seen or learned in this vision remains ...
Contents
| 59 | |
| 67 | |
| 73 | |
| 93 | |
| 109 | |
The Synagogue | 133 |
The Choirs of Angels | 139 |
The Redeemer | 149 |
The Edifice of Salvation | 325 |
The Tower of Anticipation of Gods Will | 343 |
The Pillar of the Word of God | 357 |
The Jealousy of God | 371 |
The Stone Wall of the Old Law | 389 |
The Pillar of the Trinity | 411 |
The Pillar of the Humanity of the Savior | 425 |
The Tower of the Church | 451 |
The Trinity | 161 |
The Church Bride of Christ and Mother of the Faithful | 169 |
Confirmation | 189 |
The Three Orders in the Church | 201 |
Christs Sacrifice and the Church | 237 |
The Devil | 293 |
God and Man | 309 |
The Son of Man | 473 |
The Last Days and the Fall of the Antichrist | 493 |
The New Heaven and the New Earth | 515 |
Symphony of the Blessed | 525 |
Bibliography to Introduction | 537 |
Indexes | 540 |
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Common terms and phrases
Adam adorned altar ancient serpent angels Antichrist appeared ardently baptism beatitude beauty Benedictine blessed body and blood bright burning carnal cast celestial chastity Christ Church circumcision Cistercian commands conquer creatures darkness death deeds desire despise Devil Disibod divine earth earthly eternal evil eyes faith faithfully Father fear fiery fire flame flesh fornication fruit garment gifts glory Gospel grace heart Heaven heavenly Hildegard von Bingen Holy Spirit honor human humility imitate Incarnation iniquity inner inspiration judgment knowledge light living Lord lust marriage mean mercy mind mystery mystical Old Testament Only-Begotten Ordo virtutum penitence perdition perfect person pillar praise pride priest prophets receive sacrament salvation Scivias secret secular seek shining shows sins Son of God son of perdition soul splendor stand stone strength supernal sweet tabernacle Testament things Trinity true tunic Virgin virtues vision wall wickedness wisdom woman words wounds
Popular passages
Page 312 - How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.
Page 221 - Let them alone : they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Page 206 - I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Page 478 - And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed...
Page 336 - And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.' 15Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Page 443 - You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.
Page 162 - Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son [to be} a propitiation for our sins.
Page 212 - Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
Page 332 - Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.