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Hildegard on Humans as Co-Creators Whose Vocation is to Create 01/12/2024 |
Hildegard sees creativity at the core of our vocation as human beings, and pictures God saying, I have been moved by the form of humankind, I have kissed it, grounded it in faithful relationship. Thus I have exalted humankind with the vocation of creation. I call humankind to the same
norm. |
We have a vocation to create, which is why we are exalted as co-creators. This is our nobility, but also our serious responsibility. “Humankind is full of all creative possibility,” Hildegard asserts: Humankind is God’s work |
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[and] called to assist God and called to co-create. We can set into creation all that is necessary and life-sustaining. She is confident of our capacity to create and to make a difference. For Hildegard, the Cosmic Christ is integral to our creativity, for “the Word is living, being,
spirit, all verdant greening, all creativity.” |
St. Stanislav Girls’ Choir of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium in Ljubljana, Slovenia, sings Hildegard’s chant “De Spiritu Sancto” (Holy Spirit, The Quickener Of Life). Video by zevnikov. | For Hildegard, greening and creativity are synonyms. The divine presence is at work in us both as Holy Spirit and as the Word or the Cosmic Christ. “In the beginning was the Word.” |
Hildegard recognizes “two aspects to humanity: the singing of praise to God and the doing of good works." The via positiva is our praise, while the doing of good works is a combination of the via creativa and via transformativa. “It is in
praise and service that the surprise of God is consummated.” You might say our creative work is the surprise of God. |
Hildegard recognizes the damage we can with our powers of creativity– eco-wars, societal wars and much more. But she is hopeful we’ll make the right choices with our creativity. Are we dry or wet? Says |
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Hildegard, When a forest does not green vigorously, then it is no longer a forest. When a tree does not blossom, it cannot bear fruit. Likewise, a person cannot be fruitful without the greening power of faith. The soul that is full of wisdom is saturated with the spray of a bubbling fountain, God himself/herself. |
Adapted from Matthew Fox, Hildegard of Bingen: A Saint For Our Times, pp. 93-95.
See also Fox, Creativity: Where the Divine and the Human Meet.
Banner Image: “Touch.” Photo by One zone Studio on Unsplash |
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Queries for Contemplation Do you experience your and humanity’s creativity as a vocation? In what ways?And do you experience your soul sometimes "saturated with the spray of a bubbling fountain, God
herself?" |
Responses are welcomed. To add
your comment, or read other comments and enter into dialog, please click HERE to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments
field. |
Hildegard of Bingen, A Saint for Our Times: Unleashing Her Power in the 21st Century
Matthew Fox writes in Hildegard of Bingen about this
amazing woman and what we can learn from her. In an era when women were marginalized, Hildegard was an outspoken, controversial figure. Yet so visionary was her insight that she was sought out by kings, popes, abbots, and bishops for advice.
“This book gives strong, sterling, and unvarnished evidence that everything – everything – we ourselves become will affect what women after us may also become….This is a truly
marvelous, useful, profound, and creative book.” ~~ Andrew Harvey, author of The Hope: A Guide to Sacred Activism.
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Creativity: Where the Divine and Human Meet
Because creativity is the key to both our genius and beauty as a species but also to our capacity for evil, we need to teach creativity and to teach ways of steering this God-like power in
directions that promote love of life (biophilia) and not love of death (necrophilia). Pushing well beyond the bounds of conventional Christian doctrine, Fox’s focus on creativity attempts nothing less than to shape a new ethic.
“Matt Fox is a pilgrim who seeks a path into the church of tomorrow. Countless numbers will be happy to follow his lead.” –Bishop John Shelby Spong, author, Rescuing
the Bible from Fundamentalism, Living in Sin |
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In the Beginning There Was Joy: A Cosmic Celebration for Kids of All Ages
The first book in the Father Fox’s Fantastical Fables series tells the story of the big bang and how humans fit into the awesome, fantastical, cosmic picture! With artwork curated from illustrators around the world, this book expresses the joy and wonder of all peoples and cultures, planting seeds of respect, cooperation and hope to work together for the healing of our planet. "This delicious book for children of all ages celebrates joy as the essential truth of reality." - Andrew Harvey, Author of The Hope and Radical Regeneration
"I absolutely LOVED reading this beautiful, creative, stirring story—a charming, whimsical, powerful, parable." - Robert Holden, Author of Happiness NOW! and Higher Purpose
Receive a 20% discount when you buy this and one other book from Matthew Fox’s store!
Use Promo Code 20% at checkout. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar
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SPECIAL EVENT: 5-DAY WORKSHOP IN AQUINAS’ HOMETOWN OF ORVIETO, ITALY
WITH MATTHEW FOX, MESHI CHAVEZ, AND CLAUDIA PICARDI
JUNE 9-14, 2024
LEARN MORE HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox and Alessandra Belloni for an online Lecture, Concert, and Q&A on “Gifts of the Black Madonna for the New Year,” Thursday, January 11, 4:00-5:30 pm PT. Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book “Confessions: The Making of a Post-Denominational Priest ” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat.Thursday, January 18, 4:00-6:00 pm PT. Register HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he lectures on “What the Mystics Tell Us About Dying “ at the Conference on Death, Grief and Belief, “Emerging Spiritualities: Death and Bereavement Across the Spiritual Spectrum,” Saturday, January 20, 9:00am – 5:00pm PT. Register HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book “The Lotus & The Rose” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat. Thursday, February 15, 4:00-6:00 pm PT. Register HERE. |
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Creation Spirituality Conversations |
In the midst of increased violence between Israel and Palestine, Ilia Delio and theologian Matthew Fox discuss the state of the world today and how to have courage in Part 1 of their conversation. Ilia and Matt discuss his mentor, Marie Dominique Chenu, the influence of liberation theology on social justice in
the church today, and what can still be learned.
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