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Christ & Antichrist
as Pictured by Hildegard of Bingen 09/04/2024 |
Twelfth century abbess, musician, scientist, healer, saint and doctor of the church, Hildegard of Bingen has some strong words—and an even stronger image she painted in a picture of the antichrist. |
First, let us consider her painting of the Christ, since the antichrist is its opposite. Hildegard teaches that the “man in sapphire blue,” the “healing Christ,” is in all of us and invites us to choose to follow that path in life. The Blue Christ of compassion is geared up and ready to go to work for compassion, his hands are extended out to help others and are linked to a caring heart. |
“The Man in Sapphire Blue” by Hildegard of Bingen, from Scivias; in Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen by Matthew Fox. |
In her painting on Christ, one knee is slightly bent which signifies he is getting ready to “run into peace” as Meister Eckhart puts it, to run into works of compassion, to assist others in need, to affirm the dignity of others especially those in need, to serve with alacrity. “Let’s get going,” she is saying. Behind the Blue Man in her painting are golden ropes. Hildegard identifies this with the Creator (she sees this painting as a painting of the Trinity) and emphasizes the interconnectivity of all things. |
Images of the antichrist by Hildegard of Bingen. Found in Matthew Fox’s Illuminations book. | The antichrist is necessarily the opposite of interconectivity and compassion. Her painting of the antichrist borrows heavily from the Book
of the Apocalypse and her sense of the End Times. In it, she pictures evil and the coming of chaos as the unraveling of the ropes of justice that keep order to society. In her painting, she features several beasts who are unraveling of order by pulling on a rope. |
Chaos reigns with the antichrist. Among the beasts are, in her words, “a fiery dog that was not burning; a lion that was reddish-brown; a pale horse; a black pig; and a grisly wolf.” Each was pulling hard on a piece of rope in his mouth and pulling apart a rope that an
interdependent and compassionate universe found in the Blue Man painting. Each was doing its part to bring on chaos, the unraveling of cosmic order. What does each beast stand for? The fiery dog stands for humans who “bite at their own condition” and do not burn with justice. |
The reddish lion stands for “warlike men” who wage wars without considering God’s judgment. The pale horse stands for those who put luxury living and their own selfish pleasure before the performance of worthwhile acts. The black pig stands for rulers who create sadness and uncleanness in themselves and their subjects. |
Detail of Hildegard’s image of the Antichrist: Unraveling of the ropes of the universe. Found in Matthew Fox’s Illuminations book |
The wolf stands for those who rob others. The black rope, she tells us, represents “the darkness that stretches out many injustices.” She pictures Christ as a young man, “who is the beginning of justice” and “a very strong warrior” who will “break the head of injustice." Justice and beauty will triumph. To be continued. |
Adapted from Matthew Fox, Trump & MAGA as Antichrist: A Handbook for the 2024 Election, pp. 81f.
See Fox, Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen, pp. 32-37, 122-126.
Banner Image: Detail of Hildegard’s image of the Antichrist: the returning Christ. From Matthew Fox’s
Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen. |
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Queries for Contemplation |
What do you see and feel in Hildegard’s picture of “The Man in Sapphire Blue”? What do you see and feel in her painting of the antichrist? Notice how frequently chaos and justice and injustice are spoken of in her commentary on that painting. |
Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election
Matthew Fox tells us that he had always shied away from using the term “Anti-Christ” because it was so often used to spread control and fear. However, given today’s
rise of authoritarianism and forces of democracide, ecocide, and christofascism, he turns the tables in this book employing the archetype for the cause of justice, democracy, and a renewed Earth and humanity.
Now also available as an e-book HERE.
From the Foreword: If there was ever a time, a moment, for examining the archetype of the Antichrist, it is now…Read this book with an open mind. Good and evil are real forces in our world. ~~ Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit and
Conversations with the Divine. |
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Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen
An introduction to the life and work of Hildegard of Bingen, Illuminations reveals the life and teachings of one of the greatest female artists and intellectuals of the Western Mystical
Tradition. At the age of 42, she began to have visions; these were captured as 36 illuminations–24 of which are recorded in this book along with her commentaries on them.
“If one person deserves credit for the great Hildegard renaissance in our time, it is Matthew Fox.” – Dr Mary Ford-Grabowsky, author of Sacred Voices. |
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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. "Matthew Fox does it again, here for our young ones, who so need a positive, cosmic vision
to thrive, or even survive, in a sad time." - Father Richard Rohr, Author of The Universal Christ "Matthew Fox offers a resounding affirmation of what our souls have always suspected: we are made for joy." - Mirabai Starr, Author of God of Love and Wild Mercy |
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UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar
HERE |
MONTHLY: Join Matthew Fox, Mariko Middleton, and Skylar Wilson of the Order of the Sacred Earth in a free virtual meeting for connection and networking with other mystic warriors. Last Tuesday of every month, 4:00-5:00pm PT.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88665302478
Meeting ID: 886 6530 2478 Learn more at www.orderofthesacredearth.org |
Matthew Fox will make a guest appearance during the Creation Spirituality Communities course, Creation Spirituality in a Time of Apocalypse. He will talk about his new book on the antichrist, which is an apocalyptic archetype. Join Theodore Richards, founder of the Chicago Wisdom Project and editor of the online Magazine/Podcast
ReImagining as he takes us through 4 sessions exploring how Creation Spirituality can give birth to new stories during times of upheaval. Dates: Sept 9, 16, 23, 30 from 7-9 PM ET. Cost: $150 per student: In honor of
Matthew Fox’s gracious involvement CSC is extending the 25% discounted rate until 9/6/24. USE COUPON CODE APOC25 Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, September 19, 4:00-5:30 pm PT.
Register HERE. ConvergenceCoLab hosts Matthew Fox, Margaret Wheatley, and Brian McLaren in an online conversation on “Post-Doom Spirituality," Wednesday, October 16, 6-8:30 PM ET. Register now with an EARLY BIRD rate of $30, HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his two books, In the Beginning There was Joy and The Return of Father Sky, in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, October 17, 4:00-5:30 pm PT.
Register HERE. Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Matthew Fox speaks on "Preserving Things in the Good" at the Unity of Walnut Creek Earth Day worship service held on April 21, 2024. |
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