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Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox
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Hildegard on Angels Praising the Good Works of Humanity
When Hildegard tells us that angels “praise the good works of humanity,” as she did in yesterday’s DM, I think Hildegard means that humanity represents a new song to the universe, a new song to these
vibratory and deeply musical beings, the angels. We have inspired them to intone a new song simply to welcome us, to honor our works.
Rupert Sheldrake comments:
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This implies that by singing this new song, we change the celestial consciousness. The consciousness of God and of the entire universe is changed by human evolution. We normally think of human evolution as being an entirely provincial event here on Earth.
Humans can go as far as the moon, rockets can reach Mars and Venus and other planets, but…the influence of human works, in the modern cosmological context, is very limited.
| Angelic choirs, from THE POETICAL WORKS OF JOHN MILTON WITH MEMOIR AND NOTES published by The American News Company, New York, 1880. Public Domain. Scan by Brendan Riley on Flickr.
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But Hildegard gives a very different perspective. “All of the angels are amazed at humans.” Their new song, inspired by human works, is sung to God. This implies a cosmic effect of humanity. What human beings do on Earth makes a difference to the conscious spirits of the entire universe which is a very big thought indeed.
I responded:
And it’s a very optimistic and hopeful thought. A pride-bearing thought. It’s very expansive. As Aquinas says, “When your mind expands, joy comes.” Empowerment goes with it.
A lot of disempowerment that our culture has felt in the last hundred years might be washed out, purified, cleaned up, by such news as this. If human beings knew that beautiful, good, and powerful beings were watching us, maybe we would stand up more erect and be more beautiful ourselves. We would be inspired to live to our dignity.
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God walks with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1530. Wikimedia Commons.
| Hildegard also has something to say about language and the angels,
namely that
...the omnipotent God spoke to Adam in the words of the angels, because Adam knew their language well and could understand it.”
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She raises the question of where languages come from and how they originated, important questions still today as Rupert comments:
From a scientific point of view, no one knows how language arose or evolved. It’s one of the great mysteries. You can’t dig up fossil languages. All you dig up are solid, durable things like flint arrowheads and bones.
We don’t know anything about the sounds that people made when the first languages evolved. Nor do we know whether human languages all arose from a single creative event or whether there were several independent origins of languages.
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Queries for Contemplation
Does hearing that angels “praise the good works of humanity” inspire you to continue more faithfully and more deeply and more joyfully your good works?
Adapted from Matthew Fox and Rupert Sheldrake, The Physics of Angels, pp. 162f.
Banner Image: The angel Raphael speaks to and protects the virtuous man Tobias in the apocryphal Book of Tobit. Painting by Giovanni Gerolamo Savoldo in WikiGallery.
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The Physics of Angels: Exploring the Realm Where Science & Spirit Meet
When was the last time a scientist and a theologian discussed angels together? What are angels? Many people believe in angels, but few can define these enigmatic spirits. Now visionary theologian Matthew Fox and acclaimed biologist Rupert Sheldrake—pioneers in modern religious thinking and scientific theory—launch a groundbreaking exploration into the ancient concept of the angel and restore
dignity, meaning, and joy to our time-honored belief in these heavenly beings.
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Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, please click HERE
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See Matthew Fox's full calendar HERE
Join Alessandra Belloni and Matthew Fox for a shared online event, "The Black Madonna: Patron and Protector of the GLBTQ and Other Outcasts of Dominant Society." Wednesday,
June 29, 4:00pm-5:30pm PT. Register HERE.
Join Matthew Fox as he offers an online lecture and Q&A on "Hildegard of Bingen: A Saint for Our Times" to The College of Psychic Studies, London, Thursday, June 30,
11:00am-12:30pm PT. Register HERE.
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Join Matthew Fox at the monthly Our Lady of the Prairie Virtual Retreat with a discussion of "The Tao of Thomas Aquinas: Fierce Wisdom for Hard Times." Thursday, July 14,
4:00pm-6:00pm PT. Register HERE.
Creation Spirituality in Conversation.
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Victor Fuhrman of Destination Unlimited on OMTimes interviews Matthew Fox on Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality. Navigate to the podcast page by clicking the image on the left.
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Announcing Matthew Fox's Newest Book!
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Matthew Fox: Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality
Selected with an introduction by Charles Burack
“This collection of Fox’s most life-giving insights blesses the connection between caring for our Mother-the-Earth and lifting up marginalized voices, between waking up from the dream of separation and stepping up to mend the net of creation.”
—Mirabai Starr, author, God of Love and Wild Mercy
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