Hello Prayer Bench friends,
So many shades of greens to see around us. This is the season I think of our creation mystics who see the Divine with special brightness in this season of spring (here in the northern hemisphere.)
Let’s spend some time with Hildegard today. She is a great companion for the spring and perhaps, she will inspire in us a spring spiritual practice.
We also move toward Pentecost with a couple of short reflections.
And I’ll highlight a resource that might be useful for you as we come close to a time of summer sabbath.
About Hildegard of Bingen:
Born in 1098, Hildegard was not well known for almost 800 years. Recent interest in the role of visionary women and the discovery of her creation centered spirituality make her one of the best known mystics.
She was born into a noble family in Germany. As the tenth child she was dedicated to God and offered as a "tithe" to the church. A Benedictine nun, Jutta, gave her an education at a time most people could not read. She was remarkably creative and remembered as a mystic and musical composer, a visionary and healer, a preacher and theologian, an Abbess and author of theology books, poems, liturgical plays and the writer of many letters.
Her Writing
I, the fiery life of divine essence,
am aflame beyond the beauty of the meadows.
I gleam in the waters.
I burn in the sun, moon, and the stars.
With every breeze,
as with invisible light that contains everything,
I awaken everything to life ...
I am the breeze that nurtures all things green.
I encourage blossoms to flourish with ripening fruits.
I am rain coming from the dew that
causes the grasses to grow with the joys of life.
- Hildegard in Scivias, The Way of Knowing.
• You may want to read Hildegard's words, received in a vision, aloud.
• Work with the words. Chant the words. You can make a simple chant sounded on one note. Or choose a line or two that speaks to you. What word resonates for you? How might you sing this word? Is it a bright sound? Or a quiet sound? Will your voice go up at the end of the line or go down? There is no right or wrong way to chant.
• Memorize one line. Throughout the day allow the line to rise in you, calling your attention to the present moment.
Her Music: “The Living Light”
Pentecost: “Beyond Babble”
This is the Day
Take a few minutes to glance at a newspaper or scan online news. Allow your heart to open to the pain and the brokenness that is part of our daily news.
Ponder This
It is sad when the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) crashes and the language of the earth is shattered and broken into pieces.
The sadness is help alongside joy at Pentecost when it no longer mattered that everyone spoke different languages. There was a new unity, deeper than words, holding them together. There was a new vision deep in their hearts that brought a common understanding.
We learn in the Mystery of Easter that sadness and happiness join together to bring joy. We reflect on wisdom from Cole Authur Riley. She writes: “When we reminagine joy as more than mere happiness, we make space for sorrowful joy.” (This Here Flesh, pg. 186.)
In every turn of the Circle of the Church Year it seems we need to affirm, again and again, a Wholeness that is beyond the babble and brokenness we see all around.
A Practice for Today
Recall the news stories you scanned. Pray for healing and wholeness.
A Practice of Prayer for Pentecost
“O living flame of love …
O lamps of fire…
How gently and lovingly
you wake in my heart,
where in secret you dwell alone;
and in your sweet breathing,
filled with good and glory,
how tenderly you swell my heart with love.” – St. John of the Cross
Sit with your eyes closed. Put your hand on your heart. Be still. Get in touch with the beating of your heart. Imagine the Divine Flame burning within you. Begin to send the fire of love outward, pouring it upon your family and friends, your community, out to all creation.
A Summer Sabbath Resource in the Prayer Bench Shop
First published in 2020
Theme 1. SUNFLOWERS: Pronouncing a Blessing
Theme 2. STRING BEANS: Taking up the Offerings
Theme 3: MOSQUITOES: Praying Through Hard Times
Theme 4: FIREFLIES: Praying for Others
Print this small booklet to nurture and enrich your summer-time space. Take it with you on your stay-cation or to the back deck to deepen your Summer Sabbath. Read one devotion and practice for seven days before reading the next one.
Perhaps you belong to a community of faith that takes a Sabbath break over the summer and closes for a few weeks. This small booklet offers devotions to use on four Sundays. Know you are joined in prayer and community with many others.