The Book of Divine Works

Fathers of the Church Medieval Continuations

by St Hildegard of Bingen, Nathaniel M. Campbell (Translator)

Declared a Doctor of the Church in 2012, St. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) is one of the most remarkable figures of medieval Latin Christianity. A visionary theologian and prophetic reformer, as well as composer, artist, and natural scientist, her voice echoes across the centuries to offer today an integrated vision of the relationship between cosmos and humanity.

Completed in 1173, The Book of Divine Works (Liber Divinorum Operum) is the culmination of the Visionary Doctor's theological project, offered here for the first time in a complete and scholarly English translation. The first part explores the intricate physical and spiritual relationships between the cosmos and the human person, with the famous image of the universal Man standing astride the cosmic spheres. The second part examines the rewards for virtue and the punishments for vice, mapped onto a geography of purgatory, hellmouth, and the road to the heavenly city. At the end of each Hildegard writes extensive commentaries on the Prologue to John's Gospel (Part 1) and the first chapter of Genesis (Part 2)―the only premodern woman to have done so. Finally, the third part tells the history of salvation, imagined as the City of God standing next to the mountain of God's foreknowledge, with Divine Love reigning over all.

For Hildegard, the Incarnation is the key moment of all history, willed from eternity to complete God's Work. God's creative capacity and loving mission are thus shared with the humans he made in his image and likeness―for Hildegard, the incarnate Christ's tunic and the Word's creative rationality, respectively. Containing all creation within ourselves, we are divinely called to cooperate in the Creator's work, to enter into a fruitful and sustainable relationship with creation. The scope of Hildegard's visionary theology is both cosmic and close―reflections of God's loving self-revelation are both grand and utterly intimate, as the Work of God reaches from the very heart of infinity down into every smallest detail of the created world.

Genres: Religion, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Christianity, History, Catholic, Mysticism

536 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1170

Reviews

[Czarny Pies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hildegard von Bingen's Book of Divine Works is as an outstanding piece of medieval mystic writing; that is to say, it is work in which the authority relates her visions and thus she shares with the reader her personal encounters with God. In this it belongs on the opposite end of the spectrum of medieval Catholic writing from that of scholastic theology as typified by the writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas who dealt with logic, divine law and natural laws. Hildegard represents the experience of following a human God. The Scholastics deal with the rules emanating from this divine God. In recognition of the extraordinary quality of her work, Pope Benedict XVI named her a Doctor of the Church one of only 35 writers to have been awarded this distinction and only the fourth woman.

Hildegard emerges from this book as a joyous and intense Catholic. She believes intensely in the goodness of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit as well as their divine creation (i.e. the world we live in.) Practicing Catholics should well consider reading this book as her enthusiasm is truly energizing and inspirational.

This book also draws the reader's attention to the fact that Hildegard was a multi-faceted person. It contains a number of her songs with both lyrics and music. I think the reader could well skip these and instead go to YouTube where many of her exquisite compositions are available. However, I do commend the editor who assembled this book 15 years before the era of YouTube for his intentions.

Hildegard was also a charismatic abbess who founded two convents. In this role she showed remarkable determination, political skill and leadership ability. The book addresses this side of Hildegard by presenting her correspondence. Her letters show her to alternatively diplomatic and pugnacious. She bluntly tells Pope Anastasius IV that she considers him to be a rank incompetent. With other correspondents she is diplomatic and at times syrupy.

All in all this book was great fun to read. Before reading it, however, readers might find it helpful to go to YouTube and watch Margaret Von Trotta's remarkable 2009 biographical movie about Hildegard von Bingen "Vision".

[John Damon Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

AVOID THIS TRANSLATION. This is a review of the translation, not Hildegard.
Fox twists and omits in order to make Hildegard his mouthpiece for his wacky New Age beliefs. The truth of Hildegard's theology that manages to is of course magnificent, but please do yourself a favor and get a newer translation.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. There's a reason she's a Doctor of the Church. Her knowledge of science and theology is way ahead of her time.

[Nan Mathews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great work about a true visionary. A powerful, scholarly and artistic woman. She could have been burned as a heretic but even today we see her vision of "God in Three Persons". Her songs and art were unheard of for a woman in her time.

[Joe Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of Hildegard's Letters and Songs.

Very inspirational.

If you love Hildegard, please visit
http://www.hildegardchristianmystic.com

Thank you.

God bless,

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A VARIETY OF HILDEGARDE’S WRITINGS

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was a German nun, writer, composer, philosopher, Christian mystic, and Benedictine abbess. In his Introduction, Matthew Fox (the former Dominican priest who founded the "Creation Spirituality" movement) notes, "Hildegard offers western civilization a deep and healing medicine for what may well be its number-one disease of the past few centuries: anthropocentrism... Hildegard brings together the three essential elements essential elements of a living cosmology. The first element is science... The second element... is a healthy mysticism... The third element... is art. Neither science nor theology is enough to awaken a people."

She asks, "Since God is Reason, how could it be that God, who causes all divine actions to come to fruition through human beings, is not active?" (Pg. 10) She observes, "As long as we are in this world, we cannot know the soul and its merits." (Pg. 169) She predicts, "Foreigners will invade Christendom and destroy Church institutions by taking advantage of the Christians' lack of weapons. All this is an indication of the coming of the Antichrist. These days will be saturated with filth..." (Pg. 247)

In one of her letters, she states, "I am but a poor woman who listens to the instruction of the masters." (Pg. 331) She adds in another letter, "I am but a poor creature and fragile vessel; yet what I speak to you comes not from me but from the clear light. Human beings are vessels God has made and filled with the Spirit so that the divine work might come to perfection in them." (Pg. 338)

She wonders, "What about those in the Church who through an interdict impose silence on the singing of God's praise? If on earth they have committed the wrong of robbing God of the honor of the praise which is God's due, then they can have no fellowship with the praise of the angels in heaven." (Pg. 359)

While as with other translations supported by Matthew Fox (e.g., 'Sheer Joy,' 'Breakthrough: Meister Eckhart's Creation Spirituality in New Transition'), scholars might debate its accuracy, this is still a very lively translation of a work that richly deserves modern readership.

[Francisco Becerra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A though but marvelous read. Without doubt, Hildegard is one of the most remarkable women of the middle ages. This book is a lesson for those who think that early catholicism is devoid of connection and comprehension of the natural world. Hildegard clearly depicts each connection of the human body with the world, the influences and feedback between humanity and nature, how the world is spherical (as Eco mentioned: a lot of people, even in the Church, knew the world was spherical even before Columbus), how the divine is within us and we need to reconnect with it, and of course a profound sense of the symbolic meaning. Make no mistake: as I said, this is a though read. It’s written in the XIIth century; she comes again and again and again to the same concepts; you almost need to have some sympathy to christian theology to get through it. But the rewards are plenty within this pages.

[Whitney Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, the first time I heard of Hildegard of Bingen was when I took a World Music Literature class in college, when the class was learning how to transpose Gregorian chant into modern notation and putting modern notation into Gregorian Chant. Then I discovered this book in when I went to Seminary, and yes even though I was in a Protestant Seminary they had this book and a few others about Hildegard in their library. This was as beautiful as it was the first time I read it.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing spiritual guide. Hildegard's interdict, her wisdom, her visions, her letters...what a book!

[Ephrem Arcement · Rating 3 out of 5]

The highlight of this collection is the songs. This is where, in my opinion, Hildegard shines the brightest.

[cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hildegard would have HATED how little male doctors understand about the female body to this day!

[Davide Capezza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ottimo per allenare la propria conoscenza del latino. Devo dare atto alla creatività delle visioni.

[LittleFlowerEnjoyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't finish the whole book yet. I wanted to do a quick study of Bl. Hildegard's second Vision. And while that sufficed to fulfill my aims, I find this edition disappointing, as it appears to have various sections abridged rather than containing the work in its entirety. The heterodoxy of the introduction by the Editor is worth skipping over, as it coincides with the same earth-worshipping nonsense so common among the neo-Catholic sect and other mainstream branches of Christian heresy.

[Annalouise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most in my book club are liking this book, she has very detailed descriptions of her visions, and describes what each means in great detail. We decided to skip to her letters, because one of us felt her writing was too tedious. Personally, I'm liking her writing. She's an awesome woman from the middle ages.

[Leslee · Rating 5 out of 5]

She was amazing. I love her art. I love her music. I love how she negotiated her world. I even love her scary visions.

[Trunks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. Matthew Fox does great work again!

If you like hildegard, check out this awesome website:
http://www.hildegardchristianmystic.com

Peace & love,

[Tran]

I like it

[Patrick\ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can get through these. Hildegard kept her feet on the ground and was useful to many.

[Ezgi Neşe]

It took some time for me to understand what she's writing, and I'm still not sure what that all meant.