Hildegard of Bingen: Composer and Saint

(Vatican Radio) This Sunday, Pope Benedict presides over Mass in St Peter’s Basilica for the opening of the synod on a New Evangelisation for the transmission of the Christian faith. As well as opening this landmark assembly, the Holy Father will also declare German Saint Hildegard of Bingen a Doctor of the Church.

Hildegard who was officially canonized by the Pope in May of this year was an 11^th century writer, philosopher and composer.

Participating in Sunday’s celebration will be British composer Stevie Wishart who has created a vespers for the occasion.

She spoke to Lydia O’Kane about the musical arrangement. “The vespers is really one of the forms where we can use her music more than in some of the other Church services, so we’ve really created a vespers where we could perform her Antiphons around the Psalms.”

Speaking about the Mass on Sunday Wishart adds that, “it is a very exciting challenge” hugely rewarding, especially “to honour a composer and a Saint that’s been certainly part of my life and a very important inspiration to me as a composer.” Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s interview with Stevie Wishart