The Greening of Hope

Description

Melbourne’s Festival of Hildegard in October 2012 honoured Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) for her extraordinarily diverse achievements as a writer, healer, musician, prophet and administrator. Over three days, one hundred and twenty people spiralled not only through public lectures and an academic seminar stream but also dramatic re-enactments of scenes from Hildegard’s life, workshops on chant, embroidery, manuscript conservation, productive gardening, dance, art, and a labyrinth built of eucalyptus and bracyschome daisies. The festival grew from the twin convictions that Hildegard’s life and thought resonate in many settings, and that the work required to interpret her in this quite different, Australian context yields enduring wisdom. Held as her name was added to the list of thirty-six theologians who are credited with ‘universal significance’ as doctors of the church, the Melbourne Festival of Hildegard demonstrated Hildegard’s power to communicate across the ecumenical conversation within and beyond the church. This volume brings together the papers that were presented at the festival. They reflect the depth and diversity of both the occasion itself as well as leading research into Hildegard’s life and work. They remind us of Hildegard’s gifts and her confidence, shared by participants in the festival, that the greening of hope goes on.