A most important event occurred five years after Hildegard was named mother superior. In 1141, at the age of 42, she experienced a vision so intense that she became ill. At Volmar’s urging, Abbot Kuno of Disibodenberg gave her permission to record her visions, and she regained her health. At approximately the same time, Hildegard felt a physical strength that she had not experienced at any time previously, and she began her creative life in earnest. The first visions she recorded were later collected into the volume known as Scivias, or, more completely, Scito (or Sci) vias Domini (Know the Ways of the Lord).
The event that was to propel Hildegard’s public life came in 1147, when Pope Eugenius III (r. 1145-53) convened a synod at Trier (November 1147-February 1148). He reviewed the unfinished version of Scivias, read it aloud to the assembled church hierarchy, declared it to be of divine origin, and, with the synod’s approval, commanded Hildegard to continue recording her visions. By doing so, Eugenius declared her to be a prophetess of the church, a title that authorized her to preach. This event changed her life. Pilgrims came to Disibodenberg to consult her; novices, with their donations, were attracted to her convent; people from all walks of life wrote to ask her advice or for consolation; and she undertook four preaching tours in the surrounding area of Germany.
The period 1147-49 was a busy one for Eugenius, and Hildegard’s visions were certainly not the only item on his ecclesiastical agenda. He held a series of synods at Paris, Rheims, and Trier in 1147 and 1149 that were primarily devoted to the reform of clerical life inspired by his Cistercian background and the influence of Bernard of Clairvaux. Shortly after the Synod at Trier, at the Council of Reims (March 21-31, 1148), Eugenius reviewed the ideas of Gilbert of Poitiers. He had been accused of heretical teachings, especially concerning the Trinity. Unlike the outcome with Hildegard, Gilbert’s works were condemned until they had been revised according to the demands of the church. Gilbert acceded and was allowed to return to his position as bishop of Poitiers. At least in this instance, gender had nothing to do with church approbation.
World History
