Autoridade profética e autoimagem em Hildegard Von Bingen

Abstract

The object of this study is the mystic and prophetess Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179), more specifically, her prophetic authority and self-image. Starting from her Letters - a textual genre considered itself autobiographical - and the prologues of her visionary writings, we seek to understand, through her own words, how her public atuation took place; what allowed her to achieve such importance and influence, as a woman; and how she saw herself and her ministry. In order to do so, the thesis begins by explaining the theoretical-methodological aspects of this research, the choice of Letters as the main source and the plausibility of talking about concepts such as “subjectivity” and “autobiographical texts” in a medieval author. Subsequently, the focus will be on her public atuation, on her fame as a prophetess, on the “apostolic journeys” known by her Letters and the correspondence exchanged with ecclesiastical and secular authorities, whom she greatly influenced. It will be explained what image the prophetess wanted to have and some of the strategies used to legitimize her speech and consequently approval of the established authorities, such as the emphasis on her ignorance and smallness, obedience to the divine order and the emphasis on diseases and suffering. Finally, it will be said what she thought about herself and her ministry.