St. Hildegard von Bingen - Feminine Vision
Hildegard von Bingen - 'O splendidisimma gemma'/'O jewel resplendent'
Take a listen to this beautiful rendition of the antiphon 'O splendidissima gemma' sung by Sabine Lutzenberger:
An antiphon is a chant featured in Christian rituals, sung before and after a psalm verse.
Psalm antiphon for the Virgin, 'O splendidissima gemma' by Hildegard of Bingen:
O splendidissima gemma et serenum decus solisqui tibi infusus est,
fons saliens de corde Patris,
quod est unicum Verbum suum,
per quod creavit mundi primam materiam,
quam Eva turbavit.
Hoc Verbum effabricavit tibi Pater hominem,
et ob hoc es tu illa lucida materia per quam hoc ipsum Verbum exspiravit omnes virtutes,
ut eduxit in prima materia omnes creaturas.
O jewel (also meaning 'flower bud') resplendent and bright and joyous beauty of the sun that's flooded into you—
the fountain leaping from the Father’s heart.
This is his single Word by which he did create the world’s primordial matter,
a motherhood into confusion cast by Eve.
This Word the Father made for you into a man— and this is why you are that bright and shining matter,
through which that Word has breathed forth every virtue,
just as he brought forth all creatures in a primal motherhood.
|
Latin collated from the transcription of Beverly Lomer and the edition of Barbara Newman; translation by Nathaniel M. Campbell.
Hildegard von Bingen (1098 - 17th September 1179)
St. Hildegard of Bingen was a German Benedictine abbess, writer, composer, philosopher, Christian mystic, visionary and polymath. Hildegard said that she first saw "The Shade of the Living Light" at the age of three, and by the age of five she began to understand that she was experiencing visions. She used the term 'visio' (the Latin for "vision") to describe this feature of her experience and recognized that it was a gift that she could not explain to others. Throughout her life, she continued to have many visions, and in 1141, at the age of 42, Hildegard received a vision she believed to be an instruction from God, to 'write down that which you see and hear.' The text of this antiphon perfectly illustrates one such vision that she might have had and the inspiration of thought that came with it.
For Hildegard, the fertility of motherhood is a fundamental property of material creation. In her thinking, the virgin Mary not only overturned the done by Eve, but she recovers the original glory of womankind. Mary is not a mere passive vessel, but rather an active participant in the salvation scheme. While it is more than noteworthy that as a female writer in a male dominated world, the depth of Hildegard's writings (and the fact that they were preserved) provide us with an important perspective in Rhineland spiritual life in the 12th century, it is essential that modern readers understand that Hildegard was building upon an already established tradition. The first Marian interpretations of the Song of Solomon kindled the flame of Marian devotion which spread throughout Western Europe. Other works of the time describe the soul (anima) or Church (ecclesia) as the ideal "Bride of Christ."
For Hildegard, the fertility of motherhood is a fundamental property of material creation. In her thinking, the virgin Mary not only overturned the done by Eve, but she recovers the original glory of womankind. Mary is not a mere passive vessel, but rather an active participant in the salvation scheme. While it is more than noteworthy that as a female writer in a male dominated world, the depth of Hildegard's writings (and the fact that they were preserved) provide us with an important perspective in Rhineland spiritual life in the 12th century, it is essential that modern readers understand that Hildegard was building upon an already established tradition. The first Marian interpretations of the Song of Solomon kindled the flame of Marian devotion which spread throughout Western Europe. Other works of the time describe the soul (anima) or Church (ecclesia) as the ideal "Bride of Christ."
 |
| Stained glass window depicting St. Hildegard von Bingen |
Sources: International Society of Hildegard von Bingen Studies (Campbell and Lomer) , Encyclopaedia Britannica
Comments
Post a Comment