The story of their life
A Benedictine abbess, composer, writer and Doctor of the Church who joined theology, music and nature. Medieval monasteries were centres of worship, education, healthcare and manuscript culture.
Saint11th–12th century · Feast September 17
St Hildegard of Bingen
Also known as Hildegard von Bingen, Sibyl of the Rhine, Saint Hildegard
Abbess
Doctor of the Church
Mystic
A Benedictine abbess, composer, writer and Doctor of the Church who joined theology, music and nature.
A note on content. This profile is a prototype draft. Devotional traditions, historical facts and uncertain traditions will be clearly identified once entries are reviewed. We do not publish invented quotations.
Historical context
Medieval monasteries were centres of worship, education, healthcare and manuscript culture.
Defining moments
- Leading a women’s community
- Recording visions
- Founding a monastery
- Composing music
- Preaching publicly
Faith and spirituality
Creative praise, reverence for creation and courageous use of a woman’s voice.
Why this saint matters today
High-confidence match for composers, writers, ecological interests and women exercising leadership.
Patronage and intercession
People turn to St Hildegard of Bingen in matters of:
Musicians
Writers
Women leaders
People interested in creation
A prayer
God of grace, through the intercession of St Hildegard of Bingen, guide us in faith, courage and love. Amen.
Timeline
Sources and further reading
- https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html
- https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Calendar/
Source-quality status: unverified prototype