Judith Bouilloc & Sara Ugolotti Based on the Writings of Saint Hildegard of Bingen A Journey into the Works of God
Under the direction of Romain Lizé, President, Magnificat Editor, Magnificat: Isabelle Galmiche Editor, Ignatius: Vivian Dudro Translator: Magnificat - Ignatius Proofreader: Kathleen Hollenbeck Layout Designers: Thérèse Jauze, Magali Meunier Production: Thierry Dubus, Audrey Bord To my three wonders: Rita, Juliette, and Joachim. You have heaven and earth within you.
Judith Bouilloc & Sara Ugolotti Based on the Writings of Saint Hildegard of Bingen A Journey into the Works of God
From my childhood I have contemplated great wonders that my tongue could not express unless the spirit of God taught me to believe them. Hildegard of Bingen, Letter to Bernard of Clairvaux Man is the enclosure of the wonders of God. Hildegard of Bingen, Book of Divine Works
The Simple Garden PAGE 9 The Forest Library PAGE 17 Everything Is Connected PAGE 33 The Wonders of God PAGE 25 The Living Light PAGE 41 In You, Heaven and Earth PAGE 49 Viridity PAGE 65 The Choir of Angels PAGE 57 Contents
Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. Genesis 9:3 - 1 -
Rica’s grandmother has a garden behind her house, and it is the girl’s favorite place to be. She spends hours weeding the well-defined plots and identifying the many plants growing in them: sage, valerian, thyme, lemon balm, gentian… Grandmother calls these plants “simple.” That was the name given to the herbs used to make medicines in the Middle Ages. In the winter, Rica likes to dig up the fennel bulbs. She makes tiny bouquets of violets in the spring. In the summer, she rests in the shade of the tall poplar tree and watches the clouds f loating across the sky. Leaning against the tree, the girl wonders what she will be when she grows up. She wishes the whole world were as orderly and lovely as her grandmother’s garden. When Rica pulls out the couch grass1 choking the plants, she imagines that she is removing the illness from which she has been suffering for years. “If only diseases 1. Couch grass is an invasive weed. 11
were as easy to pluck out as weeds from garden!” she wishes. In the kitchen, Rica’s grandmother hangs bouquets of herbs from the ceiling to dry them. Under this fragrant canopy, she bakes “cookies of joy” with flour, butter, sugar, and spices. She also makes an ointment for rashes from violet leaves and a plant-based tonic for liver complaints. She calls the tonic “elixir of centipede,” a name Rica finds funny. All of Grandmother’s recipes are from books written by Saint Hildegard of Bingen. “Mom says that Saint Hildegard is a Doctor of the Church,” said Rica to her grandmother one day. “Does that mean she treated many Catholics?” Grandmother laughed and said, “Being a Doctor of the Church has nothing to do with the practice of medicine. The pope gave Saint Hildegard this title not for her knowledge about medicinal plants but for her understanding of God’s love for his creation.” “But I thought Hildegard was a healer who loved botany and music,” said Rica. “She was!” Grandmother replied. “But she was much more than that. Saint Hildegard was a genius. She was one of the great writers of the Middle Ages and one of the best composers of the twelfth century. 12
She wrote books and poems, hundreds of letters, seventy songs, and even a musical play. She wrote in Latin and liked to invent new words; she even created her own imaginary language! As a Benedictine nun she cared for the sick, welcomed the poor, built monasteries, and taught both men and women. She took several long journeys, and at seventy-two, she was still riding on horseback! On top of all this, Hildegard was a mystic.” “A mystic? What does that mean?” asked Rica. “A mystic is someone inspired by God to see the wonders of his love in his creation,” Grandmother explained. “Through the Holy Spirit, Hildegard contemplated the truth about God in the world around her. She wrote three books about the visions she had… books full of illuminations.” “Illuminations?” “Little paintings that adorn old handwritten books. I have some copies of illuminations made by Saint Hildegard. If you would like to see them, they’re in the desk in the library.” Rica’s eyes widened, and she hurried toward the library.
All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord abides for ever. 1 Peter 1: 24 - 2 -
Grandmother’s library is almost as enchanting as her garden. There are so many wonderful books! Often, after lunch, Rica chooses a volume about a topic that interests her. By the time she closes the book, it is almost evening. Learning new things is so captivating that hours go by without Rica noticing. Many potted plants watch over the library. They inch their way along the windowsills and climb up the curtains. Every day, the plants take up more and more space. “At the rate they are growing,” Rica has observed, “the library will become another garden, or maybe even a forest!” A forest library—that is magical! 19
In the library, Grandmother also has collections of plant specimens, which are dried, mounted, and labeled. She has recipes for making medicines with these plants. On the walls are framed drawings of rare f lowers. Among them is a prayer of Saint Hildegard that Rica likes to read when things are not going well: Rica raced to the desk and rummaged through its drawers. She found a large green envelope and hastened to open it. Inside were the treasures she was seeking: copies of illuminations by Hildegard. The girl spread the pictures on the floor of the library with cries of admiration. The paintings were so full of light and life! Rica took a long look at the illumination of Hildegard herself. The saint was seated in a little Spirit of fire, praise be to you! All creatures that live by you praise you, most precious balm, who transforms our gaping wounds and broken limbs into priceless jewels. 20
chapel, a stylus in her hand. Flames were pouring down on her head. “Like the Holy Spirit coming down on Mary and the apostles at Pentecost,” Rica thought. The girl understood that the fire of the Holy Spirit does not burn or destroy, but enlightens, purifies, and encourages. “I would like to meet you, Saint Hildegard,” Rica said out loud. “I have so many questions I would like to ask you!” The girl held out her hand, and her fingers passed through the paper, as if it were a puddle of lukewarm water. Intrigued, she stood up and gently touched the picture with her big toe, which also seemed to pass through the paper. Fascinated, Rica boldly jumped with both feet into the picture!
Scripture quotations are from Revised Standard Version of the Bible—Second Catholic Edition (Ignatius Edition) copyright © 2006 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Original French edition: Le Jardin des Merveilles © 2022 by Mame, Paris. © 2023 by Magnificat, New York • Ignatius Press, San Francisco All rights reserved. ISBN Magnificat 978-1-63967-035-2 • ISBN Ignatius Press 978-1-62164-622-8 Printed in October 2022 by Dimograf, Poland. Job number MGN 23002 Printed in compliance with the Consumer Protection Safety Act, 2008
Rummaging through the desk drawers, Rica found a large green envelope and hastened to open it. Inside were the treasures she was seeking: copies of illuminations by Hildegard. The girl spread the pictures on the floor of the library with cries of admiration.The paintings were so full of light and life! Rica took a long look at the illumination of Hildegard herself. The saint was seated in a little chapel, a stylus in her hand. Flames were pouring down on her head… “I would like to meet you, Saint Hildegard,” Rica said out loud. “I have so many questions I would like to ask you.” The girl held out her hand, and her fingers passed through the paper, as if it were a puddle of lukewarm water. Intrigued, she stood up and gently touched the picture with her big toe, which also seemed to pass through the paper. Fascinated, Rica boldly jumped with both feet into the picture! A Journey into the Works of God Rica is sick and needs an operation.Through her relationship with her grandmother and a mysterious encounter with Saint Hildegard of Bingen, she sees the beauty of the world and the gift of life in a new light. Based on the writings of Saint Hildegard, this book for young people is a meditation on the wonders of creation and the Creator who makes and loves all things. AGES 7 AND UP
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