Hanging on the south side wall of our sanctuary is a large framed image of St. Hildegard’s vision, Christ the Redeemer. We also have two smaller framed prints of this vision in the main body of the church because of its significance within Hildegard’s theological worldview. This piece captures the whole of salvation history including several miniatures reflecting the six days of creation.

The section in this vision with the stars represents the patriarchs (and matriarchs) – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in particular. John the Baptist who “glittering” while paving the way for the incarnation of Jesus. In the center of the vision, there is a blue circular object (common to a number of visions in Scivias) with a stick-like piece (some have noted that it looks like a lollipop) infusing a bit of heaven into earth.

There is an image of a man (Adam) emerging from the ground to capture a whiff of an Easter Lily. Hildegard wrote that Adam could not fully appreciate or experience the flower because he quickly fell into darkness. In her commentary she wrote:

“The blazing fire, by means of that flame which burns ardently with a gentle breeze, offers to the human a white flower, which hangs in that flame as dew hangs on the grass. For, after Adam was created, the Father in His lucid serenity gave to Adam through His Word in the Holy Spirit the sweet precept of obedience, which in fresh fruitfulness hung upon the Word; for the sweet odor of sanctity tricked from the Father in the Holy Spirit through the Word and brought forth fruit in greatest abundance, as the dew falling on the grass makes it grow. It’s scent comes to the human nostrils, but he does not taste it with his mouth or touch it with his hands; for he tried to know the wisdom of the Law with his intelligence, as if with this nose, but did not perfectly digest it by putting it in his mouth, or fulfil it in full blessedness by the work of his hands. And thus he turns away and falls into the thickest darkness, out of which he cannot pull himself…” (153)

The vision concludes with the Resurrection of Christ who “makes his way into the greatest height of inestimable glory, where he radiates in the plentitude of wonderful fruitfulness and fragrance…” (156) Christ the Redeemer is the radiant gold figure emerging from the bottom of the vision bringing light into the darkness.

The large print was brought back from Germany and framed for our sanctuary space and the smaller prints were donated to our space. This vision is one of our favorite Easter images!