Hildegard of Bingen and Francis of Assissi

             Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) and Francis of Assissi (1182-1226) influenced religion in the Western civilization and very different ways. They were both catholic, Hildegard being part of the Roman sector and Francis part of the Italian sector. Neither of them followed the path they were expected to take which is the reason their influence was so strong.

            Hildegard was sent to a German convent to receive schooling at a young age. There she also took her vows to become a nun, eventually becoming the Abbess, superior, of the convent. She is significant because during her time she was the only woman allowed to preach. Because of what was later diagnosed as migraines, Hildegard began having visions at a young age. As she got older she proclaimed that they were a gift from God allowing her to see the full story of creation and redemption. As of May of 2012, Hildegard was recognized as a Saint by Pope Benedict XVI and then in October of 2012 she was named a Doctor of the Universal Church. As can be seen, she is influential even today.

            St. Francis is the founder of the great Orthodox movement, the Franciscans. He was expected to follow his father’s path in cloth trade but decided to go his own way and became a mendicant. He gave up his fortune because he had a vision of the Lord which led him to dedicate his life to the service of humanity. He strived to follow the model of Christ by only accepting hospitality (no money), walking without shoes, wearing a simple tunic, and refusing to be sheltered. By doing this he received the stigmata, marks on the hands and feet resembling the wounds Christ received while on the cross. His followers, the Brothers and Sisters of St. Francis, continued his preaching, setting up groups from Italy to England. He influenced the way the natural world was treated during the 13^th century, which is why he is named the Saint Patron of animals and the ecology.