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"For her, visions were a teaching technique … a way of visualizing the doctrine that God was calling her to teach to the church,” says medieval scholar Barbara Newman. Photo: Zvonimir Atletic/Shutterstock

'After her death in 1179, Hildegard became predominantly known as an apocalyptic prophet due to her writings on the End Times and the Second Coming, which would end up being widely circulated among both Catholics and Protestants. Later, she gained new popularity in the wake of 20th century feminism, which found inspiration in her work from a time when opportunities for women were severely limited. In 2012, the Roman Catholic Church canonized her as a saint and Doctor of the Church. Only four women hold this title, and Hildegard is the earliest of them, Newman says.

'Perhaps the most enduring aspect of Hildegard’s legacy is her impact on music and the arts. There are approximately 75 musical pieces known to have been composed by Hildegard. She wrote a “sacred music drama,” akin to an oratorio, entitled Play of the Virtues and likely designed or sketched images in one manuscript of her writings.'

Read Matt Gardner's article on anglicanjournal.com, here.

More about St. Hildegard’s Sanctuary, an “inclusive, arts-based, contemplative Christian community” in the parish of St. Faith’s in the diocese of New Westminster, here.