Hildegard of Bingen: Scivias

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Paulist Press, 1990 - Biography & Autobiography - 545 pages
"...these translations thus supersede former ones...if the introductions, translations, and other apparatus of the rest of the series are of the same high quality, the series will be indispensable for most libraries." Library Journal Hildegard of Bingen: Scivias translated by Mother Columbia Hart and Jane Bishop introduced by Barbara J. Newman prefaced by Caroline Walker Bynum I saw a great mountain the color of iron, and enthroned on it. One of such great glory that it blinded my sight. On each side of him there extended a soft shadow, like a wing of wondrous breadth and length. Before him, at the foot of the mountain, stood an image full of eyes on all sides, in which, because of those eyes, I could discern no human form. Hildegard of Bingen(1098-1179) Hildegard of Bingen, twelfth-century German nun, mystic, prophet and political moralist, was widely consulted as an oracle and wrote prolifically on doctrinal matters, as well as on secular matters like medicine, She publicly preached monastic reform, founded two nunneries, and was embroiled in the politics surrounding popes and anti-popes. Scivias, her major religious work, consists of twenty-six visions, which are first se down literally as she saw them, and are the explained exegetically. A few of the topic covered in the visions are the charity of Christ, the nature of the universe, the kingdom of God, the fall of man, sanctification, and the end of the world. Special emphasis is given to the sacraments of marriage and the Eucharist, in response to the Cathar heresy. As a group the visions form a theological summa of Christian doctrine. At the end of the Scivias are hymns of praise and a short play, probably an early draft of Ordo virtutum, the first known morality play. Hildegard is remarkable for being able to unite " vision with doctrine, religion with science, charismatic jubilation with prophetic indignation, and longing for social order with quest for social justice." This volume elucidates the life of medieval women, and is a striking example of a special form of Christian spirituality. +
 

Contents

THESE ARE TRUE VISIONS FLOWING FROM GOD
59
God Enthroned Shows Himself to Hildegard
67
Creation and the Fall
73
The Universe and Its Symbolism
93
Soul and Body
109
The Synagogue
133
The Choirs of Angels
139
The Redeemer
149
The Edifice of Salvation
325
The Tower of Anticipation of Gods Will
343
The Pillar of the Word of God
357
The Jealousy of God
371
The Stone Wall of the Old Law
389
The Pillar of the Trinity
411
The Pillar of the Humanity of the Savior
425
The Tower of the Church
451

The Trinity
161
The Church Bride of Christ and Mother of the Faithful
169
Confirmation
189
The Three Orders in the Church
201
Christs Sacrifice and the Church
237
The Devil
293
God and Man
309
The Son of Man
473
The Last Days and the Fall of the Antichrist
493
The New Heaven and the New Earth
515
Symphony of the Blessed
525
Bibliography to Introduction
537
Indexes
540
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