This annotated introduction to Hildegard of Bingen reveals the depth of her writing and spirituality as abbess, advisor, counselor and spiritual guide. Kujawa-Holbrook guides the reader with ample notations and gives the biographical and historical contexts of Hildegard’s life, explaining the social framework of Hildegard’s time. One remarkable aspect of Hildegard’s life was that she took the part, in her earlier years, of a humble, weak woman both as a politic way of navigating the societal restrictions of her time and, more importantly, as evidence that she was divinely inspired. That is, Hildegard was able to protect herself from potential persecution, by not overstepping the restrictions of a woman’s status, but also offered her status as evidence that her visions came from God, not from book learning or given to her by others.
Among her works, the connection of mysticism and ecology is evident in Hildegard’s writings, stemming from the embracing of the life force of God throughout all creation. Also notable for her time was Hildegard’s work with women’s health and sexuality that showed a real concern for a woman’s wellbeing across the full scope of life events of menstruation, conception, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and menopause. Some of Hildegard’s writings are unconventional for her time, while others are rather conservative even by the standards of that era. All are written in clarity and beauty.