Today was a pilgrimage day. Consider for a moment your ancestors... the people who’ve walked before you and made all the difference to who you are today.... Call to mind the mentors and guides who have shaped and formed your spirit...
We traveled to Sponheim, the birthplace of Jutta, Hildegard’s spiritual mentor and walked a labyrinth. In the afternoon we made the pilgrimage to Disibodenberg, the Benedictine monastery where Hildegard first entered monastic life. As we hiked up the mountain we paused at seven stations with readings of the story of  Hildegard’s life, song and prayer. At the top we discovered the magnificent ruins of the Disibodenburg monastery - a sacred space - like an open cathedral amidst the trees. Betsy - one of our retreat leaders - offered a movement prayer of gratitude. It was breathtaking.

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September 9-19 Rev. Shawn is on Pilgrimage in Germany: “Hildegard of Bingen and the Greening Power of God”.

St. Hildegard was a 12th century  German Benedictine abbess. She was a mystic, composer, artist, poet, healer, and preacher. These short blog posts share some highlights from Rev Shawn’s pilgrimage.

The sloping hillsides of the Rhine Valley are green with vineyards. Everywhere there are branches and vines laden with late summer’s fruits - apples, pears, plums and so many grapes! This abundance attests to Hildegard’s theology of Veriditas  - the greening power of God is alive in all things!

Hildegard wrote:

Therefore a person contains both the likeness of heaven and earth in himself or herself. . . A person also has the means to bring forth new life and the desire to do so–just as the earth has the means to bring forth greenness, fruitfulness, and animals.”  - Scivias II.1.2

In Hildegard’s view, the imagery of fruitfulness and barrenness in the natural world is a portal to our spiritual life.

Today’s invitation is to welcome all parts of our being into Veriditas .... Take a long, loving look at your being: Where does the greening power, Life force flow freely in your living? .... and where is that greening power being blocked in your living?

Together we sang, “Veriditas, Veriditas, the greening of my soul.”

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September 9-19 Rev. Shawn is on Pilgrimage in Germany: “Hildegard of Bingen and the Greening Power of God”.

St. Hildegard was a 12th century  German Benedictine abbess. She was a mystic, composer, artist, poet, healer, and preacher. These short blog posts share some highlights from Rev Shawn’s pilgrimage.

A river. An open door. A ripened chestnut ready to fall. Each holds an image of threshold: a place - space - moment of transition, and crossing that threshold holds both promise and strangeness. We joined in community with 14 other pilgrims and were invited to consider our intention for this time of pilgrimage with the wisdom of St. Hildegard of Bingen. We joined our voices in song In the spirit of Benedictine hospitality, "Welcome in the stranger, through the door of your heart.

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September 9-19 Rev. Shawn is on Pilgrimage in Germany: “Hildegard of Bingen and the Greening Power of God”.

St. Hildegard was a 12th century  German Benedictine abbess. She was a mystic, composer, artist, poet, healer, and preacher. These short blog posts share some highlights from Rev Shawn’s pilgrimage.