The Vision of Love: From the Heart of a Mystic to the Feet of Jesus

1Cor 15:1-11, Psalm: 117, Lk 7:36-50

Memorial of Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Virgin and Doctor of the Church (White)

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

On this Memorial of Saint Hildegard of Bingen, a visionary Doctor of the Church who sang of the beauty of God’s creation and the power of divine love, the Word of God invites us to contemplate Christ’s extraordinary mercy. Saint Paul proclaims the Gospel that he received and preached: that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day. In the Gospel, a sinful woman anoints the feet of Jesus with her tears, her hair, and her precious ointment. She is forgiven much because she loves much.

In the First Letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul writes, “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” Paul lists the witnesses of the Resurrection—Cephas, the Twelve, more than five hundred brothers, James, all the apostles, and finally, Paul himself. He says, “Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me.” Paul is overwhelmed by the grace he has received. He knows he is unworthy, but he knows he is loved. “By the grace of God I am what I am.”

In the Gospel of Luke, a Pharisee named Simon invites Jesus to his home. A sinful woman enters the house and begins to weep at Jesus’ feet. She wets His feet with her tears, wipes them with her hair, and anoints them with ointment. Simon, the Pharisee, is scandalized. He thinks to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is.” Jesus responds with a parable of two debtors—one who owes a small amount and one who owes a great amount. Both are forgiven. He says, “Her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love.”

Saint Hildegard of Bingen understood this love. She was a mystic, a composer, a writer, and a spiritual guide. She saw visions of the divine light and understood that all creation is a reflection of God’s love. She wrote, “The soul is not in the body; the body is in the soul.” She knew that we are made for love, that we are loved beyond measure, and that our only response can be gratitude.

Pope Benedict XVI, who declared her a Doctor of the Church, said, “Hildegard teaches us that holiness is not a flight from the world, but a transformation of the world by love.” Pope Francis has said, “God’s mercy is greater than any sin. We cannot put a limit on God’s love.” And Saint Hildegard herself wrote, “The Holy Spirit is the life that gives life. He is the love that transforms all things.”

What does this mean for us? We are the sinful woman. We are the ones who have been forgiven much. We are the ones who have been loved beyond measure. And we are called to love in return—to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are called to be like Saint Hildegard, who saw the beauty of God in all creation and who sang of His love with every breath.

Today, let us examine our hearts. Do we love much because we have been forgiven much? Do we see the beauty of God in the world around us? Let us ask the Lord to give us the grace to love as He loves, to forgive as He forgives, and to live as witnesses of His mercy. Amen.

May God bless you all!