Dinner with the Saints: An Evening with St. Hildegard of Bingen
St. Hildegard
Welcome to the table!
“Be not lax in celebrating. Be not lazy in the festive service of God. Be ablaze with enthusiasm.”
— St. Hildegard of Bingen
St. Hildegard of Bingen, a Benedictine abbess, mystic, composer, scientist, herbalist, and Doctor of the Church, she lived a remarkable life that reflected the harmony of God’s creation. Through her visions, writings, music, and study of the natural world, she encouraged people to see all of creation as a gift from God and to care for both body and soul.
I imagine St. Hildegard delighting in a meal prepared with wholesome, seasonal ingredients. She believed that good food, prayer, work, music, and rest all played a role in living a balanced and holy life. Dinner with her would likely be filled with conversation about God’s beauty revealed in nature, the importance of gratitude, and how every meal can become an act of praise.
The Menu
Herb-Roasted Trout with Spelt Pilaf
Served with:
Fresh garden salad with apples and walnuts
Roasted carrots and parsnips
Rustic spelt bread
Baked apples with cinnamon and honey for dessert
This menu is inspired by ingredients St. Hildegard recommended in her writings, especially spelt, which she considered one of the most nourishing grains.
Herb-Roasted Trout with Spelt Pilaf
Ingredients
For the Trout
4 trout fillets
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 lemon, sliced
2 teaspoons fresh parsley
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the Spelt Pilaf
1 cup whole spelt (Spelt, also known as dinkel wheat, is a species of wheat.) It can be substituded with Farro, bulgur, quinoa, or wild rice.
3 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1 tablespoon butter
1 small onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Directions
Cook the spelt according to the package directions in the broth until tender.
Sauté the onion and garlic in butter until softened, then stir into the cooked spelt with fresh parsley.
Season the trout with olive oil, herbs, salt, and pepper.
Top each fillet with lemon slices and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 12–15 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily.
Serve the trout over the warm spelt pilaf with roasted vegetables on the side.
As we enjoy our meal together, I would ask St. Hildegard:
“How can I better recognize God’s presence in the ordinary rhythms of daily life?”
I imagine she would encourage me to slow down and notice the beauty around me, the sunrise, birdsong, a shared meal, or the kindness of a neighbor. She might remind me that creation itself is a hymn of praise to its Creator and that we honor God by caring for our bodies, our communities, and the earth He has entrusted to us.
I would also ask how she found the courage to speak God’s truth in a world where women rarely held positions of influence. She would likely remind me that when God calls us, we need only respond with humility and faith.
St. Hildegard would teach us that:
Like St. Francis every part of creation reflects the goodness of God.
Caring for our bodies can be an act of gratitude to the Creator.
Beauty, music, and art can draw us closer to God.
Wisdom grows through prayer, study, and attentive listening.
God calls each of us to use our unique gifts for the good of the Church and the world.
Her life reminds us that faith embraces the whole person: mind, body, and soul and that even ordinary, everyday moments can be transformed into meaningful opportunities to glorify God.
Things to reflection upon this week:
St. Hildegard believed that all creation reveals the glory of God.
Where have I experienced God’s beauty this week? How can I become a better steward of the gifts He has entrusted to me—my health, my talents, my relationships, and the natural world?
Challenge:
Practice the spirituality of gratitude and stewardship by intentionally slowing down to appreciate God’s creation.
You might:
Take a prayerful walk outdoors and thank God for the beauty you see.
Prepare one wholesome meal using fresh, seasonal ingredients and offer thanks before eating.
Listen to sacred music during your prayer time.
If you are not as garden-challenged as I am, plant flowers or herbs, or tend a garden as a simple act of stewardship and care.
Reach out to someone who needs encouragement and remind them of their God-given gifts.
At the end of the week, ask yourself:
How did slowing down help me notice God more clearly?
What gift from God am I called to nurture more faithfully?
How can I continue living with greater gratitude and balance?
May St. Hildegard of Bingen inspire us to celebrate God’s goodness with joyful hearts, grateful tables, and lives that reflect the beauty of His creation.
St. Hildegard of Bingen, faithful servant of God, lover of creation, and seeker of divine wisdom, pray for us. Help us to recognize God’s presence in the beauty of the world around us. Teach us to care for our bodies with gratitude, to cultivate wisdom with humility, and to use our gifts in loving service to others. May our homes become places of peace, hospitality, and joyful praise. Amen.
¡Palante, Siempre Palante! ("Forward, Always Forward")
To Jesus through St. Francis
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your spiritual journey! Keep at it! Keep praying. Love the Lord.
Peace and Grace.Fran Acosta,OFS
