Hildegard of Bingen: Healing and the Nature of the Cosmos

by Heinrich Schipperges, John A Broadwin

Overview

Hildegard of Bingen’s contemporaries called her “prophetissa teutonica,” honoring her philosophical writings and interpretation of the cosmos. Medievalists still consider her one of the leading mystics, and point to her active spiritual and artistic life in the twelfth century as the finest example of what a woman can achieve. She was praised for her natural gifts, her prophetic charisma, and her dynamic reforming disposition.

The abbess Hildegard of Bingen was the first composer to sign her musical works. As a playwright and author, she witnessed and shaped the time of the Crusades, the literary minnesang, and political and theological debate.

The author draws a complex picture of her life and work, as he “translates” Hildegard’s ideas and her mysterious world of symbols from medieval Latin into contemporary concepts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781558761384
Publisher:	Wiener, Markus Publishers, Incorporated
Publication date:	07/31/2018
Edition description:	Illustrate
Pages:	130
Product dimensions:	6.04(w) x 8.97(h) x 0.41(d)

About the Author

Heinrich Schipperges, University of Heidelberg, an internationally acclaimed expert on the history of medicine, has written several books on Hildegard of Bingen.

Table of Contents

I. Introduction II. Life and Work III. The World and Humanity IV. Natural History and the Healing Arts V. Healing and Salvation. VI. Looking Ahead. Bibliography Index

Editorial Reviews

“Schipperges delineates this remarkable thinker’s view of the human being as a microcosm of the universe, intricately bound by the senses to the life of the soul, nature, and God. He does a fine job of concisely portraying the depth and breadth of Hildegard’s work, singling out modern medicine and theology as disciplines that have much to learn from her vision and faith.” —Library Journal

From the Publisher

Hildegard of Bingen was born in 1098 of noble parents and educated at a Benedictine monastery, where she eventually became prioress. Throughout her life, she experienced mystical visions that were authenticated by the church. Schipperges (Univ. of Heidelberg) delineates this remarkable thinker's view of the human being as a microcosm of the universe, intricately bound by the senses to the life of the soul, nature, and God. Although Schipperges does not delve into her writings in any detail, he does a fine job of concisely portraying the depth and breadth of Hildegard's work, singling out modern medicine and theology as disciplines that much to learn from her vision and faith. Suitable for academic and public libraries.

Library Journal