925th Birthday of Hildegard of Bingen

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was a German Benedictine nun, poet and composer who is best known today as an important universal scholar of nature and healing. With two special stamps commemorating her 925th birthday, we are drawing attention to her theological and medicinal work.

"The Devout" (face value: CHF 1.80) Hildegard became a guide for many people because of her faith and her way of life. She repeatedly referred to visions in her theological and philosophical works. At the same time, her self-confident and charismatic manner helped her to achieve great fame. For example, Hildegard of Bingen was the first nun to publicly preach conversion to God to the people.

As a "Naturalist and Healer" (face value: CHF 2.30), Hildegard wrote two works on nature and healing. She combined the knowledge existing at that time about diseases and plants from the Greek and Latin traditions with that of folk medicine remedies. The idea of unity and wholeness is a key to Hildegard of Bingen's writings on nature and healing. She held the view that human beings can only remain healthy if we are mindful of the soul, the body and the senses in equal manner during our lives.