Born in 1098, the 10th child of her family and dedicated as a tithe to a monastery of Benedictine nuns at the age of 8, St. Hildegard grew up to be an extraordinary and holy woman. She was a mystic, a poet, a composer of unique, soaring liturgical music so different from the plain chant of the time.
St. Hildegard was the author of books music and plays. As a Benedictine Abbess she communicated with bishops and popes.
She was a popular public speaker at a time women were normally not allowed to teach or speak. Abbess Hildegard was a prophet, an adviser, an influencer of her time. Her colorful mandala like art, not created by herself but overseen by her, represented her visions of the Trinity, and other heavenly realities.
It often has a multi-layered appearance leading the eye to a central space containing symbols. Looking at it makes me feel like I’m seeing into another world. Her illustrated book "Scivias" describes her mystical visions and the interpretations of them she heard from God.
It was written in 1151. She begins it with her experience of God commanding her to write it. It is still available now as are other works of hers which ranged from the botanical to the medicinal to the theological.
Her exquisite music has been performed for centuries. Her musical play, "Ordo virtutum," or "Play of the Virtues," may well be the oldest known morality play. It is beautiful but you may jump when in the middle of the serene vocals, the wild dischordant voice of Satan interrupts.