Tag Archives: Doctor of the Church

Catherine of Siena – part 2

catherine_of_sienaCatherine of Siena (1347-1380), fourteenth century Christian mystic and writer, lived during a time of decline in the world. There were plagues, economic disasters, and political corruption. The Church was in turmoil. There were two popes in Catherine’s time, one in Avignon and one in Rome. Catherine was called by God to mediate conflicts in the Church and Society. Catherine became an advisor to political leaders and popes.

Catherine was named a Doctor of the Church in 1970 by Pope Paul VI. She was the first woman to be published in the Italian dialect. Her writings are still published and read by many in many languages. How did this come about?

Catherine was born in 1347 in Siena, the twenty-fourth child of Giacomo and Lapa Benincasa. Giacomo was a prosperous dyer and they had a very large home. At age six, Catherine had a remarkable experience. On the way home from visiting a sister she had a vision of heaven. At age seven she took a vow to devote her life to Christ. She refused all of her mother’s marriage plans for her and devoted her life to solitude and prayer. At age sixteen she joined the third order of the Dominican laywomen called the Mantellate. These women went throughout the streets in their familiar black and white robes serving the poor. They also maintained a highly contemplative life.

About this time the dreaded Black Plague had been killing thousands of people. Catherine fearlessly nursed the sickest people. While administering to the needs of her patients she also gave them spiritual advice. Her personal charm and down home wisdom won many friends for her.

Her piety convinced many that she was truly a woman of God to follow. Of course, this made enemies for her too. Some thought of her as just a fanatic. Later, when she had some influence among the church leaders she would be accused of just being a political manipulator. And many did not understand her mysticism.

But Catherine had the ability to discern the state of a soul and she witnessed to manycatherine-of-siena-body lost people and won many to Christ. People began to flock to her for advice. Word of her wisdom got to Avignon and the cardinals invited her to come and speak to them. Actually they were hoping to use her as an envoy to Rome to convince the people there to renounce the pope in Rome and to follow the pope in Avignon. But Catherine believed that the papacy belonged in Rome and worked to that end for the rest of her short life. She literally wore herself out and died at age 33 in Rome. (There are more details about this in my first post on Catherine of Siena, November 20, 2012.)

In this post let us look at another aspect of her life – her mysticism and her writing. Catherine led a very active life – full of travels, counseling, and writing. She kept several scribes busy writing letters and several longer works. One work is the “Dialogue”. This was a theological work written in 1377-1378 as a conversation between the “Eternal Father” (God the Father) and a “human soul” (Catherine). Using this method of dialogue, Catherine gives us her theology. The “Eternal Father” exhorts the soul to prayer, works of charity, virtue, and obedience. In the following passage Catherine explains our need for an atoning Savior:

Wherefore I have told you that I have made a Bridge of My Word, of My only-begotten Son, and this is the truth. I wish that you, My children, should know that the road was broken by the sin and disobedience of Adam, in such a way, that no one could arrive at Eternal Life. Wherefore men did not render Me glory in the way in which they ought to have, as they did not participate in that Good for which I had created them, and My truth was not fulfilled. This truth is that I have created man to My own image and similitude, in order that he might have Eternal Life, and might partake of Me, and taste My supreme and eternal sweetness and goodness. But, after sin had closed Heaven and bolted the doors of mercy, the soul of man produced thorns and prickly brambles, and My creature found in himself rebellion against himself.

And the flesh immediately began to war against the Spirit, and, losing the state of inno- cence, became a foul animal, and all created things rebelled against man, whereas they would have been obedient to him, had he remained in the state in which I had placed him. He, not remaining therein, transgressed My obedience, and merited eternal death in soul and body. And, as soon as he had sinned, a tempestuous flood arose, which ever buffets him with its waves, bringing him weariness and trouble from himself, the devil, and the world. Every one was drowned in the flood, because no one, with his own justice alone, could arrive at Eternal Life. And so, wishing to remedy your great evils, I have given you the Bridge of My Son, in order that, passing across the flood, you may not be drowned, which flood is the tempestuous sea of this dark life. See, therefore, under what obligations the creature is to Me, and how ignorant he is, not to take the remedy which I have offered, but to be willing to drown.

The “I” in the dialogue is God the Father explaining why man cannot reach Him without His provision. The provision is a “bridge” – the Lord Jesus Christ. The soul can only come back to God through Christ. It is interesting that Catherine also shows how sinful, ignorant men choose to go their own way and refuse God’s merciful provision. Only the humble soul will turn to God and accept God’s way for salvation.

There are many other theological themes covered – the Trinity, Humanity, Self-Knowledge, and Humility to name a few. Catherine’s use of imagery, metaphor, and everyday scenes from life make her works easy to read. We can appreciate her writing all the more when we realize that she suffered slander, ridicule, and violence throughout her life. She was often weak from fasting, yet she persevered. She did not teach her followers anything that she was not ready to live up to herself.

Catherine’s theology is still relevant today. She identified with Christ and this gave her the courage to persevere in her calling. Her theology is grounded in her denial of her self and total willingness to give God the glory for everything. We admire her for her courage, strong-willed determination, and obedience to God no matter what. Catherine calls us to lives of humility, grace, holiness, love and discipleship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hildegard of Bingen – Part 2

“It happened in the year 1141 of the Incarnation of God’s Son Jesus Christ, when I was forty-two years and seven months old, that the heavens were opened and a fiery light of great brilliance came and suffused my whole brain and set my whole heart and breast afire like a flame – yet not burning but warming, as the sun warms an object on which it sheds its rays. And suddenly I came to understand the meaning of the book of Psalms, the Gospel, and the other canonical books of both the Old and New Testaments — … in a marvelous way, I had sensed the power and mystery of secret, wonderful visions in myself from girlhood, from the age of five, even to the present time.”   Hildegard of Bingen.

Above all, she maintained a great and faithful love for Christ and the Church.
                                                                                                  Pope Benedict

Over the next few weeks we will look at the lives of Christian women mystics. As stated in last week’s post, Mysticism is hard to define. Christian mystics seek a closer experience of union with God. For mystics this is not just a paranormal experience, but a very real, non-abstract experience. Certainly there were mystics who did some really strange things, but many were quite orthodox in their faith and led pious Christian lives. Hildegard of Bingen is a good example of serious Christian mystic and I am glad that our series on Christian mystics begins with her.

hildegard of bingenHildegard of Bingen (1098 – 1179) is best known as a twelfth-century abbess with an extraordinary mind and she is known for her visions. Whatever one thinks about the subject of visions and dreams, certainly Hildegard was a wise, talented, intelligent, dedicated, and devout Christian woman who rose above her circumstances to serve God in extraordinary ways. She has been authenticated by the pope in her day (Eugene III) and recently by Pope Benedict.

Hildegard was born around 1098 in Bemersheim, Germany, the daughter of a knight and his pious wife. Since Hildegard was their tenth child they offered her as a tithe to God. It was not uncommon in the Medieval Era for parents to place children in monasteries for their upbringing and eventual profession. When she was only eight years old, Hildegard went to a convent to stay with her Aunt Jutta.

While living with Jutta, Hildegard learned the psalms in Latin and how to sing the monastic hours. Women in religious communities were highly educated. Hildegard had access to the Bible, many commentaries, writings from the church fathers, and even medical texts. Hildegard was also tutored by Volmar, a monk at a nearby monastery. Volmar became Hildegard’s lifelong spiritual director as well as a friend and secretary.

When her aunt Jutta died in 1136, Hildegard was chosen to be the abbess in her place. Hildegard was thirty-eight years old.

There is more information about Hildegard’s life, including the books and playshildegard music she wrote, the music she composed, and her preaching and teaching activities in “Hildegard of Bingen” posted on May 11, 2011, on this blog site.

In this post we will look at one aspect of Hildegard’s theology – The Holy Spirit.

On October 7, 2012 Hildegard of Bingen was named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict. In his address to the Synod of Bishops he said:

Saint Hildegard of Bingen, an important female figure of the twelfth century, offered her precious contribution to the growth of the Church of her time, employing the gifts received from God and showing herself to be a woman of brilliant intelligence, deep sensitivity and recognized spiritual authority. The Lord granted her a prophetic spirit and fervent capacity to discern the signs of the times. Hildegard nurtured an evident love of creation, and was learned in medicine, poetry and music. Above all, she maintained a great and faithful love for Christ and the Church.

Pope Benedict’s sermon sums up Hildegard’s life honestly. He alludes to Hildegard’s prophetic spirit and certainly Hildegard’s visions were the basis for her authority as a teacher in the church. Hildegard made positive contributions to society. In her day she had the affirmation of Bernard of Clairvaux who presented her writings to Pope Eugene III who declared her writings authentic. This made her a celebrity. Pilgrims came from far and wide to hear her speak. She also traveled throughout Germany preaching and writing. Many others  came because she was an herbalist and had a reputation as a healer.

As twentieth century Christians we have a little trouble when people speak of having visions. But during the Middle Ages, visions were not uncommon. We will be looking at Medieval saints who had visions for the next few weeks. In next week’s post we will discuss how visions fit into theology. No matter what we think of visionary activity, it is important to keep in mind that Jesus told us that it is the fruit produced in a person’s life that we are to judge (Matthew 7:16).

Hildegard produced much fruit. Certainly many scholars, religious leaders, historians, and devout believers consider Hildegard an extraordinary woman. Her writings inspired many then and now to deepen their spiritual lives in prayer and service. No matter what century Hildegard had lived in, she would have been considered a devout Christian with amazing gifts.

Barbara Newman in her book, “Voice of the Living Light: Hildegard of Bingen and Her World”, sums up Hildegard’s contributions to church history:

Hildegard was the only woman of her age to be accepted as an authoritative voice on Christian doctrine; the first woman who received express permission from a pope to write theological books; the only medieval woman who preached openly, before mixed audiences of clergy and laity, with the full approval of church authorities; the author of the first know morality play and the only twelfth-century playwright who is not anonymous; the only composer of her era (not to mention the only medieval woman) known both by name and by a large corpus of surviving music; ….

One important contribution of Hildegard’s theology is her praise of the Holy Spirit. Some of her most beautiful work is found in her songs. One example is her “O ignis spiritus paracliti” written to honor the Holy Spirit.

O spirit of fire, bringer of comfort,
Life of the life of every creature,
You are holy, giving life to forms.
You are holy,
anointing those perilously broken;
you are holy,
cleansing foul wounds.
O breath of holiness,
O fire of love,
O sweet savor in our breasts,
infusing hearts with the scent of virtue.

For Hildegard the Holy Spirit is associated with abundant life. The Holy Spirit is also the One Who brings understanding of the Scriptures (John 16:13). He helps believers in their search for knowledge and wisdom.

Another way in which Hildegard expressed her faith was in her art. This picture is called the “Choirs of Angels” and is found in her book Scivias (26 of Hildegard’s prophetic visions).

choirs of angels hildegard

Composer, writer, artist, poet, prophet, theologian, healer, teacher, and monastery abbess, Hildegard is one of the most amazing women in church history. She was able to integrate her thinking about theology, music, and teaching in a way that gives us a holistic picture of life. She truly believed that she was in communion with God. Her visions helped her to understand and appreciate God.

Hildegard worked tirelessly at her calling until God called her home at the age of 82 on September 17, 1179.

Hildegard’s theology of the Holy Spirit speaks to us today.  It is all too common to hear sermons on the Father or the Savior without mentioning the Spirit. Hildegard emphasized the One-ness of God – the complete Triune God.

Hildegard calls us today to pay more attention to the Holy Spirit. Her life was an ongoing conversation with the Holy Spirit. We need that message in our twenty-first century materialistic society. Is the Holy Spirit real in our lives? Is He there helping us daily in our Christian lives? If we really believe that, then like Hildegard we are practicing a form of mysticism. We should not be afraid of it but embrace it as an aspect of a holistic life – body, soul, and spirit.