Listen then to your Mother and learn moderation! For moderation is the mother of all virtues for everything heavenly and earthly.
Hildegard of Bingen
Mother Of All Virtues
Topic: Virtue, Morality, & Ethics
In a true vision I saw and heard the following words: ‘O daughter of God, out of your love for God you call a poor creature like myself, Mother.‘ Listen then to your Mother and learn moderation! For moderation is the mother of all virtues for everything heavenly and earthly.
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was a Benedictine abbess and mystic of medieval Germany. She was born into a noble family in Bermersheim vor der Höhe, Germany, and entered religious life at the age of eight. She received a rudimentary education, but at the age of forty-two, she began to experience a series of visions that would shape her life and work.
Hildegard described these visions as "the living light," and they were often accompanied by physical sensations such as heat, cold, and pain. She believed that these visions were a gift from God, and she felt called to share them with the world. She began to write down her visions, and she also composed music and poetry to express her spiritual insights.
Hildegard was a prolific writer, and her works cover a wide range of topics, including theology, natural science, medicine, and music. She is best known for her three volumes of visionary theology: Scivias, Liber Vitae Meritorum, and Liber Divinorum Operum. These works are rich in symbolism and imagery, and they offer a unique perspective on the nature of God, the human soul, and the world.
In addition to her writings, Hildegard was also a gifted musician and composer. She wrote over 70 songs, including the Ordo Virtutum, an early example of liturgical drama. Her music is characterized by its simple melodies and its use of plainchant.
Hildegard was a complex and multifaceted figure, and her work continues to inspire and challenge people today. She was a visionary, a mystic, a writer, a composer, a scientist, and a healer. She was also a woman of great courage and determination, and she used her gifts to make a difference in the world.
Hildegard of Bingen was a remarkable woman who left a lasting legacy. She was a pioneer in the fields of theology, natural science, and music, and her work continues to be studied and appreciated today. She was also a powerful voice for women's rights, and she challenged the patriarchal structures of her time. Hildegard of Bingen was a true visionary, and she continues to inspire us with her courage, her intellect, and her creativity.
Book of Divine Works
Hildegard of Bingen, Book of Divine Works, Letter to Elisabeth of Schongua. Edited by Bruce Hozeski. Santa Fe: Bear & Company, 1987.
Hildegard of Bingen
Theme: Virtue Is
About This Hildegard of Bingen Quotation [Brief Commentary]
In Hildegard of Bingen’s perspective, “moderation” is more than a virtuous habit; it’s the cornerstone of an integrated life. In her Book of Divine Works, she communicates this idea through a vision, addressing Elisabeth of Schongau as a “daughter of God.” For Hildegard, moderation—referred to as discretion (discretio)—is a nurturing force, a kind of spiritual discipline that aligns both heavenly and earthly matters. It’s a framework that ensures the body is “nourished with proper discipline,” but goes beyond mere bodily concerns to touch the divine. In essence, discretion is the meeting point of human effort (as an expression of our free will—freedom to choose responsibly) and divine guidance, harmonizing them into a purposeful life.
About This Hildegard of Bingen Quotation [Longer Commentary]
In her list of 35 subconscious virtues from The Book of Life’s Merits (Liber Vitae Meritorum), Hildegard places discretion (discretio) as a counterbalance to the pitfalls of excess (immoderation), urging a return to equanimity. But it’s more than just avoidance of excess. Discretion involves a nuanced approach that requires both conscious and unconscious effort. It’s not merely about measuring our actions but using reasoned judgment to inform those actions. By doing so, we employ discretion as a tool for spiritual development, making it an intrinsic part of a virtuous life. The engagement with discretion becomes a way to differentiate between good and evil, between what is nourishing and what is depleting, both for ourselves and for the world around us.
The principle of discretion becomes especially relevant in today’s fast-paced world, where the pressure to do more, be more, and have more can disrupt our inner balance. Hildegard’s teachings invite us to consider the full scope of our lives and to seek the “right measure” in all things. In this way, we gain the ability to live in accordance with our true nature, which is inextricably linked with the divine. Thus, discretion serves as a compass, offering direction in a complex world, and providing us with the tools to live a life of meaning, balance, and spiritual depth.
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