May Week 3 — Mission Cleveland Parish

Virtue: Remembrance
Resolution: I choose to learn from the rich history of the Church and the mystery of the faith to hold me close to Christ.

Human Story: Saint Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)

Despite the medieval period being known as one of the darkest and most corrupt eras of Christian history, the light of Christ has always found a way to survive through the most unlikely of circumstances and characters. Hildegard of Bingen was such a figure. She was born into a large family, the 10th of many children, and her parents were unable to properly care for her. At 8 years old they sent her to live with a recluse named Jutta who was connected to a Benedictine monastery in modern-day Germany. Jutta was known as a strange but wise woman, knowledgeable of Latin and Christian philosophy, and many women were sent to her to study. Under Jutta's tutelage Hildegard became learned in the ways of the Lord. They spent almost 30 years together before Jutta passed away at which time Hildegard was elected the leader “abbess” of the convent which included around 20 women.

Reflecting on the whole of Hildegard's life, many traits and testimonies are worth remembering. She spoke truth to power, possessing a boldness and willingness to speak out against injustices within the church. She was a composer of hymns, having a vast knowledge of and love for music and worship in the church. She is considered by some to be the founder of scientific natural history in Germany as she wrote books on the properties of plants, animals, and living things that were particularly useful for healing. Hildegard is one of only 36 people and one of only four women in the history of the Catholic Church to be honored with the title "Doctor of the church” which is reserved for persons whose contributions were particularly important to theology and doctrine. She was the founder of two other convents and spoke out publicly for much needed monastic reforms. She has been called by many a "polymath," someone who has an unusually wide range of knowledge and learning. Undoubtedly, she is a Christian worth remembering.

Perhaps the greatest legacy she left us were her recordings of deep mystical experiences describing her "Visions" of God. She remembers these experiences beginning in childhood, but she was too humble or afraid to share them with others. When she was 42, she received a vision instructing her to both write them down and share them with others.

Her visions, recorded and interpreted in her three books, will leave you feeling like you've been immersed in the life of one who has been deeply intimate with God, and compel you to pursue God more radically via all five of your senses.

Lesson: Joel 2:28-29 (NIV)

And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

After Christ’s resurrection, in Acts 1, he told the disciples,

Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised…When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them…Now there were staying in Jerusalem God fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Acts 2:1-6

This is known as the first Christian Pentecost.

This scene must have been pretty wild: rushing wind, tongues of fire hovering in the air, and strange languages that everyone could understand. Peter felt the need to clarify that people were not drunk since it was nine in the morning! He gave an explanation that God has poured out His Spirit. He then quotes Joel to give validity to this new appearance as a fulfilled prophecy. In the Old Testament, the Spirit was given for specific purposes to people like prophets and kings. Now it was to be for all people.

Peter goes on to speak of dreams and visions. Both dreams at night and visions while awake are supernatural ways that God can speak to people. According to the verse in Joel and Peter’s account of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit is poured out on human flesh, supernatural things happen. Specifically, dreams, visions, and prophecy. The proof of the Holy Spirit is in the change that occurs, becoming new. Peter was a broken and scared man just 50 days before he stood up to address the crowd on Pentecost. He then went on to be an important part of the church, dying for his beloved Savior. The other disciples did not stay in a locked upper room, hidden away; they all suffered, and most died a martyr’s death. That was just the start. The bible and history record many mysterious supernatural ways that God intervenes using our Helper, our Counselor, the Holy Spirit. Addicts have become missionaries, broken souls have gotten up to preach, joy has been traded for mourning, healing of emotions and body have occurred, and light has been given in the form of wisdom in dark situations.

Remembrance: The Ways of the Lord – Scivias by Hildegard of Bingen

When I was forty-two years and seven months old, Heaven was opened and a fiery light of exceeding brilliance came and permeated my whole brain and inflamed my whole heart and my whole breast, not like a burning but like a warming flame, as the sun warms anything its rays touch. And immediately I knew the meaning of the exposition of the Scriptures...

Challenge

Be intentional this week about asking for the power of the Holy Spirit to fill you. Then write down and maybe share with others instances where the power of the Holy Spirit is evident in your life.

Reflection

The Holy Spirit can empower and enable us to do things we never thought possible. Does this seem scary to you? Does this excite you? Like Peter, we may often feel inadequate or unqualified, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can find unexplainable boldness and confidence.

Further Growth

*apocryphal text

Virtue: Remembrance Resolution: I choose to learn from the rich history of the Church and the mystery of the faith to hold me close to Christ.