Only in Lent Madness will you find a 12th century mystic facing off against a 6th century hymn writer. Well, maybe you can find a matchup between the likes of Hildegard of Bingen and Romanos the Melodist elsewhere in the world. But we're dubious.
In yesterday's Biblical battle, Bartimaeus saw his way past Jude 54% to 46%. He'll face the winner of Joanna the Myrrhbearer vs. Junia in the Saintly Sixteen.
Did you know that at the 2020 Rooted in Jesus conference in Atlanta, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Michael Curry made his Lent Madness predictions? You can hear what he had to say as part of his Way of Love podcast in his conversation with Lent Madness creator Tim Schenck by clicking here. While we encourage you to listen to the entire 17 1/2 minutes, the Lent Madness conversation starts at minute 10.
Hildegard of Bingen
Hildegard was born in 1098 in the Rhineland Valley and later wrote that she began experiencing visions of God as a child. When Hildegard was eight years old, her parents placed her under the care of Jutta, an anchoress, and she became part of a growing community of religious women attached to the male Benedictine monastery at Disibodenberg. Upon Jutta’s death in 1136, Hildegard was elected as magistra of the growing community of women, whereupon she pressed the head of the Benedictine monastery to allow her community to form a new monastery in Bingen. Despite initial objections, Hildegard ultimately founded St. Rupertsberg monastery in Bingen in 1150 and later a second monastery in Eibingen in 1165.
When Hildegard died in 1179, she left behind three volumes of visionary theology, including her most well-known theological work, Scivias, as well as soaring liturgical compositions and the morality play Ordo Virtutum. Her 400 letters represent one of the largest collections to survive from this period, and her other writings include sermons from four preaching tours, volumes on natural medicine derived from her gardening and healing practice, an invented language, gospel commentary, and many more minor works.
Reviewing the various short biographies on Hildegard, it is apparent that she had a gift for getting what she and her community needed despite the ecclesiastical restrictions of her time. When Hildegard asked for permission to found a monastery in Bingen, she had already laid the groundwork with the Archbishop of Mainz. Later, Hildegard became famous when a papal blessing for a portion of Scivias was construed as papal approval for the wide range of her theological work. Was this an accident or an example of being as wise as serpents, innocent as doves? Either way, it was a milestone in clearing the pathway for Hildegard to become a much sought-after theologian, spiritual advisor, and preacher across northern Europe.
Much more could be said about Hildegard, including her theological notion of viriditas or “greenness,” her understanding of medicine as a form of gardening, and the uniqueness of her liturgical music, but what stands out is her visionary leadership in a time when this was very difficult to achieve.
Collect for Hildegard
God of all times and seasons: Give us grace that we, after the example of your servant Hildegard, may both know and make known the joy and jubilation of being part of your creation, and show forth your glory in the world; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Romanos the Melodist
Saint Romanos the Melodist wrote hymns during the sixth century, the golden age of Byzantine hymnography. Most biographical information about him comes from the Menaion, a liturgical book of fixed-date propers in the Eastern Orthodox Church. He is believed to have been born to a Jewish family in Syria and was baptized Christian as a young boy. Later he was ordained a deacon in Beirut, then moved to Constantinople to serve as the sacristan at the Hagia Sophia.
The most important legend about Romanos revolves around a vision of Mary and is indeed the origin story for a whole category of music in the Eastern Orthodox church: the Kontakion. The story goes that Romanos began as a lousy singer and reader of the liturgy, and his fellow clergymen made fun of him. Once, after reading from the psalter, he was so ashamed that he put his head down and fell asleep in the church. Mary visited him in a dream and commanded him to eat a scroll she held in her hand. When he awoke, he went to the pulpit and chanted the hymn for which he is best known, the Kontakion of the Nativity, which is largely a dialogue between the Mother of God and the Magi. The beauty of his singing and the wisdom of the theological lyrics moved all.
Romanos wrote his hymns in Greek, and they are renowned for their linguistic beauty and sophisticated style. Although he is believed to have written more than a thousand hymns, only sixty to eighty are still in existence—and not all of those can be verified as his compositions. Rather than esoteric theologies, the hymns are in language accessible to the laity, and they address the pastoral concerns of the average person, making beautiful and accessible the mysteries of the Christian faith. They celebrate feasts and holy other days as well as saints’ lives and biblical themes. In addition to the nativity, his other notable works include the Last Judgment, the betrayal of Judas, and the martyrdom of Saint Stephen.
He is remembered on October 1 alongside the feast day of the Protection of the Mother of God in the Orthodox Church and is the patron saint of liturgical singers.
Collect for Romanos
O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants like Romanus the Melodist who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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128 comments on “Hildegard of Bingen vs. Romanos the Melodist”
I love learning so much here. I only knew Hildy as the writer of music that I find soothing and meditative. It is good to learn of her wide range of accomplishments.
I think they are both holy.
so it was hard.
Judging from the comments here, it's a pretty safe bet that Hildegard will be today's winner, even though autocorrect does not recognize her name. 😉 However, I am voting for Romanos. Autocorrect doesn't recognize him, either. I am a church choir member. Romanos' spiritual awakening and composition suggests to me that God spoke directly to him to create music for the masses to be able to sing. I often feel closest to God when singing. Finally, Romanos' collect very closely resembles the prayer with which my choir begins every rehearsal. Romanos for me today.
As an Episcopal chorister I feel compelled to vote for the “patron saint of liturgical singers” although I’ve always held Hildegard in awe for her music and many talents
As someone who doesn't sing unless I can absolutely help it, I feel very drawn to Romanos. However, I have loved and admired Hildegarde for many years; her achievements given the time in which lived were extraordinary. I may not sing, but I can garden, and I do preach, so my vote goes to Hildegarde.
Spring has sprung, the green grass is risen, to Hildegard my vote is given.
As Hildegard's feast day is my birthday, I had no other choice but to vote for her.
I voted for Hildegard. I recommend a book that I just read God's Hotel by Victoria Sweet, MD. She practiced medicine at an alms hospital in California and much of the book and her story include references to Hildegard. It is a wonderful book that will make you think a great deal about how parts of our society are treated today.
thanks for the book recommendation - added to Goodreads!
While I've long been a fan of Hildegard (I continue to marvel at so many women who excelled in ancient times when all the odds were against them), but music, hymns, and singing have always made me feel closer to god. I admired Romanos for his determination. Despite his failings as a singer and liturgy reader, he persevered by writing hymns and making God available to all of the people. He gets my vote today!
I enjoyed learning about Romanos the Melodist. I love the music of the church and have sung in choirs since I was in the Men and Boys Choir as a child. I continue to sing in community choral groups and feel very close to the Lord when, as a priest, I chant the Mass. I love chanting and singing daily Morning and Evening Prayer. Hildegard has a special place in God's kingdom. I have been aware of her many accomplishments and her knowledge, experience, visions, writing, music, and extensive influence she had in the world. She is a truly remarkable person. I enjoy listening to her music which is uniquely spiritual, meditative, contemplative, relaxing, and heavenly. Her scientific and knowledge of herbology is interesting.
I forgot to add that I had to vote for Hildegard.
I am in the choir at my church, and singing to God feeds my soul. Romanos, patron saint of liturgical singers, gets my vote today!
For those who are curious, here is a page where English translations of some of Romanos's lyrics can be read: http://www.orthodox.net/gleanings/kontakia_of_romanos.html
I am excited to learn about these two saints and, better yet - their music is available. It’s a remarkable thing to catch a glimpse of our ancient church mothers’ and fathers’ expression of faith.
Another Lent Madness win!
Would that Mary would feed a scroll to all lay readers - not for singing, just for good and accurate reading of the lessons. I voted for Romanos but it was a hard choice.
Carol Buckalew, I, too,wish Mary would feed that scroll to all lectors. How often have congregations suffered through readings of the letter to the Galoshians (they were the people who lived on the flood plain), or Paul's letter to the Phillipines (who knew he got that far in his travels?), and the Pentecost reading from Acts 2:1-13!
Don't forget "two Corinthians." (They walked into a bar.)
Omigosh How about the exhortation to “Prophecy! And again I say, Prophecy”!
The main reason NOT to vote for Hildegard is because her writings contain homophobic garbage that she claimed was given to her by God. This taints anything good she may have done. If all of God's children, LGBTQ people included, are not viewed with love and respect, than she's not a saint worth voting for.
Can you give an example or cite a passage if you don't want to repeat it?
A fine catch, indeed; I am always overwhelmed by your intelligence and way with words. You're not alone, everyone at work still seems to be reeling from losing an hour.
In Scivias, Book II Vision 6, she quotes God as condemning same sex intercourse, including lesbianism: "A woman who takes up devilish ways and takes a male role in coupling with another woman is most vile in My sight and so is she who subjects herself to such a one in this evil deed."
I'm not excusing the passage, but I do wonder how a child apprenticed to an anchorite at eight years old finds out such things.
Ooh, good question, St. C!
As I recall, Benedict's Rule has boys and men sleeping alternately in their beds in communal rooms. I wonder if there isn't a certain pro forma (if lurid) quality in some of these exhortations.
Hildegard of Bingen and Romanos the Melodist are evenly matched, but I voted for Hildegard just so I could boast of having backed at winner, finally.
A togh choice. The German in me swayed me toward Hildegard, but I admire Orthodoxy. The writer in my appreicated both of them and their accomplishments.
Today's contest was not a major struggle for me, having loved and revered Hildegard of Bingen since my childhood. I admire her for her common sense, no-nonsense approach to life, her deep and abiding faith, and because of her achievements - which are remarkable for any one in any era, but especially so for a woman of her time. Having cast my vote, I will now sally forth into the cold to walk the two blocks to Hildegard's Bakery and Cafe for fair trade coffee and a sourdough bun.
Go Hildy Go!
Despite many connections with Hildegard—medicinal gardening?! writing a language?! writing sermons, stories, songs and a play?! her fortitude and leadership and persistence?!—it was Romanos with whom I found myself resonating more today. Because of the song, arts, theology and "for the lay people" aspects. So this "mimegirl" with her MAT in Arts Theology voted for the Melodist today.
However, unless we see a dramatic upset, it looks like Hildegard will be the one to move on. In which case, looking ahead, I do foresee myself voting for her in the next rounds (until she would come up against Brother Lawrence and then I'd have a hard choice again)!
I am always impressed with those who get things done in spite of entrenched traditions. Her wide range of interests and accomplishments in a male dominated society was impressive.
Hildegard Hops Heavenly
I voted for Hildegarde. I am still not over Evelyn Underhill being eliminated, but at least one great female mystic can move forward in this competition. Evelyn quoted extensively from Hildegarde.
An impossible matchup and an ag9onizing choice! Hildegard was absolutely brilliant as well as deeply devout of course and left behind a great legacy of letters and writings and music. Nevertheless, I voted for Romanos the Melode, partly because I knew he would be the underdog in this contest, but even more because I love the beauty and piety of his hymns. I wish that all the 1000 or more that he wrote had survived.
Both are worthy, and I hope that the next edition of the Episcopal Hymnal might include a contribution from either or both of them. I just went through the index of composers and sources for the 1982 edition and can't spot anything by either, though I may have missed an attribution.
A song for healthy habits in our anxious times, to the tune of "Tis a Gift to be Simple":
'Tis a gift to be healthy, tis a gift to be clean
'Tis a gift to practice proper hand hygiene
So scrub your hands with soap
Longer than you think
And use paper towels
When you turn off the sink!". (repeat)
This was shared with me by a Unitarian Universalist friend. Song credits: Rev. Julie Hamilton, Stacey Stone and Claire Weichselbaum
Awesome!
Love it!
It seems undebatable that Hildegard is the more remarkable figure, her accomplishments are so varied: mystic, herbalist-healer, preacher, theologian, composer. Yet I voted for Romanos because he is the patron saint of liturgical singers. Having sung in church choirs the better part of my life, I feel a kinship there. Hildegard's reputation won't be dampened by sharing a bit of musical notoriety with Romanos.
Having been baptized as a Russian Orthodox and having gone to church with my Dad , who sang in the choir, I find the music very moving. Romanos got my vote today.
So much of our theology is shaped by our hymns, whether we realize it or not. With great admiration for Hildegard (from a fellow preacher), I give today's nod to a writer of hymns that guides the faithful in the pews in their beliefs and living out those beliefs.
In memory of the former abbess of my own house, the beautiful Hildegarde of Bakersfield (2005-2020).
"Your light never leaves me and burns in my soul", it was this quote that introduced me to Hildegard. Now, as I drink my lungwort tea, grown in my garden, all thanks to Hildegard, she has my vote.