Musical Offerings ⦁ 2021 ⦁ Volume 12 ⦁ Number 2 63 Musical Offerings 12, no. 2 (2021): 63–75 ISSN 2330-8206 (print); ISSN 2167-3799 (online) © 2021, Emilie Schulze, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) Hildegard: A Trailblazer? Emilie Schulze Cedarville University Christian mystic, polymath, and visionary, Hildegard von Bingen influenced theology, philosophy, and music during the Middle Ages. As she gained prominence through her music and writings, Hildegard worked within the hierarchical system to gain authority in a unique manner. Hildegard’s writings did not seek to equalize men and women’s roles in the Church or in their ontology. Rather, in her life and in her works, she appealed to her humility, virginity, and close relationship with the Holy Spirit to minister. She made these appeals not only in her written works, but also in her music, whether it be through the text or melody. Her sanctioned ministry only extended to women at the convent, which was allowed by the Catholic Church. It was only under the ministry of grace, not ordination, that her works reached outside of the convent to both genders. Thus, Hildegard worked within the authority structure of the Catholic Church to gain authority to teach women, as was expected, but unexpectedly became a teacher from grace for men. Despite being a woman, Hildegard was considered an authority on theology, philosophy, and music over women, although not over men and not as a bishop or pope. The medieval Catholic conception is nothing like the modern, secular concept of authority. A modern framework might consider expertise and training to be the basis of authority, but the medieval Catholic Church based authority on a connection to God, something affected by humility, celibacy, and the Holy Spirit. Hildegard’s works fulfill the modern framework of authority because she produced well-researched and well-written works based on her training with Jutta of Sponheim. Gerda Lerner, Austrian-born American women’s historian comments, A
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