|
Sponsored by Saint Hildegard
HILDEGARD von BINGEN
Also known as Sybil of the Rhine.
Memorial 17 September **********************
At a time when few women wrote,
Hildegard produced major works of theology and visionary writings. When few women were accorded respect, she was consulted
by and
advised bishops, popes, and kings. She used the curative powers of natural objects for healing, and wrote treatises
about natural history and medicinal uses of plants, animals,
trees and stones. She is the first composer whose biography
is known. She founded a vibrant convent, where her musical plays were performed.
Although not yet canonized,Hildegard
has been beatified, and is frequently referred to as Saint Hildegard. Revival of interest in this extraordinary woman of the
middle ages was initiated by musicologists and historians of science and religion. Less fortunately, Hildegard's visions and
music had been hijacked by the New Age movement, whose music bears some resemblance to Hildegard's ethereal airs.
Her
story is important to all students of medieval history and culture and an inspirational account of an irresistible spirit
and vibrant intellect overcoming social, physical, cultural,gender barriers to achieve timeless transcendence.
Hildegard
was born the 10th child (a tithe) to a noble family. As was customary with the tenth child, which the family could not count
on feeding, she was dedicated at birth to the church. The girl started to have visions of luminous objects at the age of three,
but soon realized she was unique in this ability and hid this gift for many years.
At age 8, the family sent this strange
girl to an anchoress named Jutta to receive a religious education. Jutta was born into a wealthy and prominent family, and
by all accounts was a young woman of great beauty. She spurned all worldly temptations and decided to dedicate her life to
God. Instead of entering a convent, Jutta followed a harsher route and became an anchoress. Anchors of both sexes, though
from most accounts they seem to be largely women, led an ascetic life, shut off from the world inside a small room, usually
built adjacent to a church so that they could follow the services,with only a small window acting as their link to the rest
of humanity. Food would be passed through this window and refuse taken out. Most of the time would be spent in prayer, contemplation,
or solitary handworking activities, like stitching and embroidering. Because they would become essentially dead to the world,
anchors would receive their last rights from the bishop before their confinement in the anchorage. This macabre ceremony was
a complete burial ceremony with the anchor laid out on a bier. Jutta's cell was such an anchorage, except that there was a
door through which Hildegard entered, as well as about a dozen of girls from noble families who were attracted there by Jutta's
fame in later years. What kind of education did Hildegard receive from Jutta? It was of the most rudimentary form, and Hildegard
could never escape the feelings of inadequacy and lack of education. She learned to read Psalter in Latin. Though her grasp
of the grammatical intricacies of the language was never complete - she always had secretaries to help her write down her
visions - she had a good intuitive feel for the intricacies of the languageitself,constructing complicated sentences fraught
with meanings on many levels, that are still a challenge to students of her writings. The proximity of the anchorage to the
church of the Benedictine monastery at Disibodenberg (it was attached physically to the church) undoubtedly exposed young
Hildegard to musical religious services and were the basis for her own musical compositions. After Jutta's death, when Hildegard
was 38 years of age, she was elected the head of the budding convent living within cramped walls of the
anchorage.During
all these years Hildegard confided of her visions only to Jutta and another monk, named Volmar, who was to become her lifelong
secretary. However, in 1141, Hildegard had a vision that changed the course of her life. A vision of God gave her instant
understanding of the meaning of the religious texts, and commanded her to write down everything she would observe in her visions.
"And it came to pass ... when I was 42 years and 7 months old, that the heavens were opened and a blinding light of exceptional
brilliance flowed through my entire brain. And so it kindled my whole heart and breast like a flame, not burning but warming...
and suddenly I understood of the meaning of expositions of the books..."
Yet Hildegard was also overwhelmed by feelings
of inadequacy and hesitated to act.
"But although I heard and saw these things, because of doubt and low opinion of
myself and because of diverse sayings of men, I refused for a long time a call to write, not out of stubbornness but out of
humility, until weighed down by a scourge of God, I fell onto a bed of sickness."
The 12th century was also the time
of schisms and religious foment, when someone preaching any outlandish doctrine could instantly attract a large following.
Hildegard was critical of schismatics, indeed her whole life she preached against them, especially the Cathars. She wanted
her visions to be sanctioned, approved by the Catholic Church, though she herself never doubted the divine origins to her
luminous visions. She wrote to Saint Bernard, seeking his blessings.
Though his answer to her was rather perfunctory,
he did bring it to the attention of Pope Eugenius (1145-53), a rather enlightened individual who exhorted Hildegard to finish
her writings. With papal imprimatur, Hildegard was able to finish her first visionary work Scivias ("Know the Ways of the
Lord") and her fame began to spread through Germany and beyond.
(thanks to the writer who sent me this, and whose
email address i lost)
Born
1098 @ Bockelheim
Died
1179 @ Bingen
What is the FELLOWSHIP OF THE RINGS ?
|
 |
Sponsored BY William Morris
William Morris(1834-1891)
was a social critic and political activist among other things. He saw the dream of Karl Marx extended it and developed socialism.
Morris delivered a lecture to the Hammersmith branch of the Social Democratic Federation at Kelmscott House, on November
30th 1884. He sees capitalist society as I see the current hidden curriculum flawed seriously because it is based on econmic
war between people and nations in a global economy, between rival capitalists in this economy, real war against colonial peoples
and between classes throughout society.
I find current issues in education concerning these same issues and I find the
current events of Canada reflecting a siege on public education. The single biggest issue in political affairs in our provinces
is state control of health care and education. Since the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association overturned Bill# 160
we are seeing a change in the approach of government conceding it's drastic education cutbacks have been a huge mistake. Teachers
have made a difference against the agenda of global capitalists who would impose the values of money over the values of life
including equity, universality and progress in education.
In H.J Robinson / M. Barlow's "CLASS WARFARE "there are three
myths proposed which are aimed at discrediting Canada's education system; blaming societies failures on our schools, poverty
on the poor and elevating the status of the global market to that of a deity.
Cultural activities like education are expected
to make students "more competitive" so the system will not to be "downsized", "restructured" or subjected to " market discipline".
I propose that while capitalist's hidden curriculum teaches accountability to profit maximisation they themselves are accountable
to nothing.
In Canada powerful capitalist groups such as the Conference Board of Canada, Corporate Higher Education Forum,
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Economic Council of Canada perpetuate these myths using Ipsos
Reid polls to undermine public confidence in our schools and for our teachers portraying the global market as saviour of our
society.
From current issues it appears that the purpose of education, schooling and equity are found to be losing their
traditional (importance as) role, making a life for a person and instilling in them a love for learning. Ideally students
gain a well-rounded education to function in society, develop a love of learning and then enter a career. Schools have traditionally
reflected a higher value on knowledge than the money code of the global capitalists. Educational institutions reflect philosophical,
religious, social/political and cultural values to set out in curriculum what students will take away from their schooling.
Teachers who are "worth their salt" will too reflect the values of an educational institution to improve their student's life
and the "human condition" in general.
If teachers accept the hidden curriculum of capitalists they act as slaves or "spineless
wimps" who deny their duty to act as agents of change and end up agents of destruction for the system they rely on for life.
Teachers are elements of change from the individual to the group regardless of how they may try to deny this. My reading of
current events identifies issues of political literacy for teachers to be focused on building bridges to other community based
institutions (Quebec Summit protests) rather than accept the financial rewards solely from their careers, take the line of
least resistance and remain silent in the face of poor policy. This form of teaching accepts the money code and denies the
life code of human kind.
These two values life code and money code are value structures hidden from view by money exchanges
of the global market. Teachers may accept education as a function the money code, which is to make more money, or they can
affirm a much more fundamental life code of values.
In "Rituals of Failure" the task of teachers is clear it is to ensure
that each student acquires a passion for learning while reaching her / his potential.
The central tenet of the life code
is that the dignity of the individual is revered above all other issues, concerns or profits.
**
WILLIAM MORRIS GALLERY ************
January 2012
see
|
