Sing to the Holy Trinity with Voices Found!

 Laus Trinitati, Praise to You, HolyTrinity VF 105

About Hildegard

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), a German Abbess, founded and led two Benedictine  monasteries in the Rhine valley.  In 1126 she was Magistra of Disibodenberg,  where she led women of a predominantly men’s monastery. Hildegard established two monasteries for women, the first in 1150 at Rupertsberg, and at Eibigen in 1165. A prolific writer,  she wrote  treatises on theology, medicine, and botany. More famously, she  wrote poetry and chants for  the daily offices.  With much fear, she had visions of God from childhood on,  which she kept secret. Eventually she described them and supervised their illuminations.  In 1147-48 at the Synod of Triers, Pope Eugenius approved her words and confirmed her visions were revelations of the Holy Spirit. With that affirmation, she proceeded to preach and teach widely along the Rhine.  She is celebrated as a Mystic and Scholar in the Episcopal Church on September 17.  Although she was revered as a Saint by some communities, especially around Bingen, Germany,  where she was born, she was not officially recognized as a Saint  in the Roman Catholic Church until recently. In 2012, she was canonized and named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict.  (For a concise biography and timeline see Hildegard of Bingen, Woman of Vision by Carol Reed-Jones, Paper Crane Press, Bellingham, WA, 2004)

Hildegard’s words

Laus Trinitati quae sonus et vita ac creatrix omnium in vita ipsorum est.

Et quae Laus angliquae turbo

Et mirus splendor arcanorum quae hominibus ignota sunt est et quae in omnibus vita est

O Praise be to you Holy Trinity, resounding jubilation and life of all that is.

To our Mother Great Creator of all things living and of life itself.

O angelic chorus sounding forth in joyful praise!

O the wonderful silent splendor the holy mysteries,

Trinity shining brilliance unknown to women or to men. O quickening sparkle dwelling in all!

Life giving life! Life of all things gloriously created!

Hildegard’s vision of the Trinity is deeply feminine. She reveals a Divine vision of the Creatrix, She who creates the life of all.   Hildegard used the term Creatrix only once in her writings, although she did use other feminine images of the Divine, such as Lady Wisdom.  In my free translation, I have envisioned a Mother Creator, parallel to the masculine Father creator of heaven and earth described in many Christian traditions.

As we marvel at Hildegard’s bold feminine imagery,  it is important to remember that her writings and were affirmed by church authorities in the 12th century, well before the Reformation.   Her feminine vision is truly ancient.  Sadly our understanding of the feminine Divine has been almost lost to Christianity over many years of masculine domination in the Church

Reflection

Laus Trinitati offers multiple images for the mysterious, incomprehensible understanding of God as Triune. With Hildegard  we may contemplate God as glorious Sound, incomprehensible Light, and the fountain of Creation. We might envision a rowdy, turbulent angel crowd in raucous praise of the Trinity.  We can ponder the wonderful silent splendor of holy mysteries.  Perhaps most importantly we can contemplate the Mother Creator breathing life-giving life into all of her creation.  Which of these images inspires you?

Does the Creatrix, Mother Creator, help you envision a feminine Divine Presence?

Hildegard hears the angels in rowdy praise, angeliquae turbae or turbulent angels, not our usual vision of angelic perfection in choral singing.  Do you think angels can be rowdy?  Perhaps think of a children’s choir at play?

Meditation

Rowdy Angels, sing to me

Glorious Light, shine on me

Mother Creator, renew me

Let me gaze at  wonderful silent Splendor, the mysteries unknown to mortals 

Listening

Laus Trinitati is a plainsong chant sung in unison.  Hildegard’s chant evokes the Eternal as the singers praise our Holy Trinity.  As you listen envision the rowdy angels as well as the wonderful silent splendor of the Creatrix.  Allow yourself to ponder the inexplicable Holy Mysteries.

Laus Trinitati is track 8 on the album Echoes of St/ Hildegard

The musical score is #105 in the hymnal supplement

Voices Found is available from Church Publishing, Inc.

www.churchpublishing.org