Please help me to welcome author Mary Sharratt, author of Illuminations, to Peeking Between the Pages today. I reviewed Mary’s newest book Illuminations yesterday (my review) and it was another fantastic novel written by one of my favorite authors. Today Mary joins us with a great guest post entitled The Triumph of Hildegard von Bingen…
Born in the lush green Rhineland in present day Germany, Hildegard (1098–1179) was a Benedictine abbess and polymath. She founded two monastic communities for women, composed an entire corpus of sacred music, and wrote nine books on subjects as diverse as theology, cosmology, botany, medicine, linguistics, and human sexuality, a prodigious intellectual outpouring that was unprecedented for a 12th-century woman. Her prophecies earned her the title Sybil of the Rhine.
An outspoken critic of ecclesiastical corruption, she courted controversy. Though women were forbidden to preach, Hildegard embarked on four preaching tours in which she delivered apocalyptic sermons warning her male superiors in the Church that they must reform their dissolute ways or suffer divine wrath. Late in her life, she and her nuns were the subject of an interdict (a collective excommunication) that was lifted only a few months before her death. Hildegard nearly died an outcast, her fate hauntingly similar to that of the contemporary sisters and nuns of the Leadership Council of Women Religious as they face the current Vatican crackdown.
873 years after her death, Hildegard will finally receive the highest recognition for her considerable achievements. On May 10, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI canonized Hildegard. In October 2012, she will be elevated to Doctor of the Church, a rare and solemn title reserved for theologians who have significantly impacted Church doctrine. Presently there are only thirty-three Doctors of the Church, and only three are women (Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Ávila, and Thérèse of Lisieux).
For twelve years I lived in Germany where Hildegard has long been enshrined as a cultural icon, admired by both secular and spiritual people. In her homeland, Hildegard’s cult as a “popular” saint long predated her official canonization.
As a writer, I was particularly struck by the pathos of her story. The youngest of ten children, Hildegard was offered to the Church at the age of eight. She reported having luminous visions since earliest childhood, so perhaps her parents didn’t know what else to do with her.
According to Guibert of Gembloux’s Vita Sanctae Hildegardis, she was bricked into an anchorage with her mentor, the fourteen-year-old Jutta von Sponheim, and possibly one other young girl. Guibert describes the anchorage in the bleakest terms, using words
like “mausoleum” and “prison,” and writes how these girls died to the world to be buried with Christ. As an adult, Hildegard strongly condemned the practice of offering child oblates to monastic life, but as a child she had absolutely no say in the matter. The anchorage was situated in Disibodenberg, a community of monks. What must it have been like to be among a tiny minority of young girls surrounded by adult men?
Disibodenberg Monastery is now in ruins and it’s impossible to say precisely where the anchorage was, but the suggested location is two suffocatingly narrow rooms built on to the back of the church.
Hildegard spent thirty years interred in her prison, her release only coming with Jutta’s death. What amazed me was how she was able to liberate herself and her sisters from such appalling conditions. At the age of forty-two, she underwent a dramatic transformation,
from a life of silence and submission to answering the divine call to speak and write about her visions she had kept secret all those years.
In the 12th century, it was a radical thing for a nun to set quill to paper and write about weighty theological matters. Her abbot panicked and had her examined for heresy. Yet miraculously this “poor weak figure of a woman,” as Hildegard called herself, triumphed against all odds to become the greatest voice of her age.
Mary Sharratt’s Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen is published in October by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and is a Book of the Month and One Spirit Book Club pick. Visit Mary’s website: www.marysharratt.com
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About Illuminations (from Mary’s website)
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), Benedictine abbess and polymath, composed an entire corpus of sacred music and wrote nine books on subjects as diverse as theology, natural science, medicine, and human sexuality—a prodigious intellectual outpouring that put many of her male contemporaries to shame. Her prophecies earned her the title Sibyl of the Rhine. An outspoken critic of political and ecclesiastical corruption, she courted controversy and nearly died an excommunicant. Her courage and originality of thought continue to inspire people today.
Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen reveals the unforgettable story of how Hildegard, offered as a tithe to the Church at the age of eight, triumphed against impossible odds to become the greatest woman of her age. Combining fiction, history, and Hildegardian philosophy, Illuminations presents an arresting portrait of a woman of faith and power—a visionary in every sense of the word.
Illuminations will be released in October 2012 to celebrate Hildegard’s long awaited elevation to Doctor of the Church.
Check out the Illuminations blog tour stops
Buy at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, B&N, and IndieBound
About Mary Sharratt (from Mary’s website)
Mary Sharratt is an American writer who lives with her Belgian husband in the Pendle region of Lancashire, England, the setting for her acclaimed 2010 novel, Daughters of the Witching Hill, which recasts the Pendle Witches of 1612 in their historical context as cunning folk and healers.
Previously she lived for twelve years in Germany. This, along with her interest in sacred music and herbal medicine, inspired her to write her most recent novel, Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen, which explores the dramatic life of the 12th century Benedictine abbess, composer, polymath, and powerfrau.
Winner of the 2005 WILLA Literary Award and a Minnesota Book Award Finalist, Mary has also written the acclaimed novels Summit Avenue (Coffee House 2000), The Real Minerva (Houghton Mifflin 2004), The Vanishing Point (Houghton Mifflin 2006), and co-edited the subversive fiction anthology Bitch Lit (Crocus Books 2006), which celebrates female anti-heroes–strong women who break all the rules. Her short fiction has been published in Twin Cities Noir (Akashic Books 2006).
Mary writes regular articles for Historical Novels Review and Solander on the theme of writing women back into history. When she isn’t writing, she’s usually riding her spirited Welsh mare through the Lancashire countryside.
Mary’s website
Mary on Facebook
GIVEAWAY DETAILS (US/Canada)
I have one copy of Illuminations by Mary Sharratt to share with my readers. To enter…
- For 1 entry leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
- For 2 entries, follow my blog. If you do let me know and I’ll pass the extra entry on to you as well.
- For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway.
This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, November 17/12. Good luck!
As I said yesterday, I’d love to read this book.
I follow your blog. Thanks for the giveaway!
Wonderful, interesting post. I’ve been interested in this book since I first read/heard about it a few weeks ago. Had never heard about Hildegad, but have been fascinated by the concept of anchoresses since reading about Julian of Norwich, a 14th century English anchoress. Hope I win this novel. Thanks for the giveaway. I’m a long time follower of your blog.
Thanks for this great giveaway, review and post. I am an e-mail subscriber.
This historical novel sounds unique and wonderful. Thanks. I subscribe via e-mail.
I’d never heard of Hildegard of Bergen, but she sounds like a fascinating woman….and very brave!
Forgot to mention…..I follow by GFC
Oh my, it does sound like she was an intriguing and very smart woman, and the fact that the church is finally recognizing that really says something to me. I really loved this guest post, Dar, and found it fascinating. I would so much love to win this book! Please enter me, Dar!!
zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net
Still thinking of you!
This book sounds SO good and I have had it on my wishlist for a while now! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
I am a GFC follower (Colleen Turner) and email subscriber.
I tweeted (@candc320).
Thanks for the info on Hildegarde and on the book. I have been curious about her for some time and about Christian mystics in general. The book seems to be getting a lot of positive press.
PS I subscribe to your blog by email.
PPS Sammy is very cute!
Sounds a really interesting book..I follow. Lomazowr@gmail.com .will tweet at rhondareads
The book really sounds great and I want to read it. Have good things about this book I follow your blog, That you for the chance at this give away.
I would love to read this. Thank you
I follow
I tweeted https://twitter.com/BrokenTeepee/status/263329840629960704
Mary Sharrat t,
I’m not going to enter this contest because you told me a few weeks (or maybe a couple of weeks that feel like a few) ago that you will send this book to me. My real name is Elizabeth V_______, and I live in Bruce, MI. Remember me? If you need my name and address again, I’ll email you. I still have the email you sent to me. Thanks.
Would love to read this book, I like finding new authors. I have Daughters of the Witching Hill on my ereader for when I go on holidays next month.
I am a follower.
Sounds great!
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
tweet https://twitter.com/mamabunny13/status/263349620443316226
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
gfc mamabunny13
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
Wow, Hildegard sounds like an amazing woman.
I’m so looking forward to this book! Thank you for the post & giveaway 🙂
I’m a follower.
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/bbulow12/status/263361912245473281
Beth
bharbin07[at]gmail[dot]com
Added to wish list! Thanks for the giveaway!
lafra86 at gmail dot com
Blog follower!
Hildegard’s life sounds so interesting. I would love to read more about her.
I follow via gfc, email, and networked blogs.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/lag32583/status/263374081670389760
Thanks for the post and giveaway!
old follower under SusieBookworm
bookwormsusanna AT gmail DOT com
Sounds like a fascinating read. Thanks for the post.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
-follower by GFC, email, Networked Blogs, Facebook
Love historicals!
-blog follower
-tweeted
Margaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com
thanks for the giveaway. I’m really intrigued by this book.
I’m a follower, and there is my tweet: https://twitter.com/wordsandpeace/status/264958897142525952
Thank you for the giveaway! I also follow your blog! I think what makes this one stand out is that Hildegard isn’t a very common figure.
Forgot: sidhekist at gmail dot com!
It looks like a fascinating book.
I follow on GFC
tweet: https://twitter.com/MaureenCE/status/265583075596046337
I’m a follower– thanks for the giveaway!
Rachelhwallen@gmail.com
This sounds like a really interesting book!
I follow on Google Reader.