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Secondary sourceDocument1913

St. Hildegard, Catholic Encyclopedia

Charles G. Herbermann · 1913

A 1913 reference article summarizing Hildegard's life, writings and sainthood for the Catholic Encyclopedia.

This 1913 encyclopedia entry summarizes Hildegard's life and reputation as a visionary and saint for later readers.

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About this source

What it is

This is an entry on Hildegard written in 1913 for the Catholic Encyclopedia, edited by Charles G. Herbermann and others. It gives a biography drawing on earlier chroniclers and legends about her birth, family and entry into religious life.

Why it matters

It shows how later generations, centuries after Hildegard lived, tried to piece together her story from biographers and documents, sometimes repeating legends as fact. It reflects how the Catholic Church remembered and presented her as a 'seeress and prophetess' long after her death.

Look closer

  • Why does the article mention uncertainty about her family name?
  • What does it tell us that later writers gave her different place-names?
  • How might a reference work written in 1913 differ from one written today?

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