Hildegard von Bingen, a Benedictine nun, religious visionary, writer and composer was born in Bermersheim, near Alzey, in the Germanic territories in 1098. She was known as “Sibyl of the Rhine.” At the age of eight her parents pledged her to the Church, and, at the age of fourteen, she joined the Benedictine sisters at the monastery at Disibodenberg. 

Hildegard learned Psalter, reading Latin and strict religious practices from her close partner and co-novice, Jutta von Spanheim. She developed basic theological knowledge from the sermons and treatises of Volmar, a priest from the monastic order at Hirsau. At Jutta’s death, she was made “prioress” and led the nuns in the monastery under the guidance of the abbot until 1150. Prioress Hildegard von Bingen later established her own order for over 50 nuns at Rupertsberg near Bingen, with donations granted from the local nobility. By 1165, she built another house for an additional 30 nuns at Eibingen currently known as Abbey of St Hildegard. She excelled in social and religious activities, music and story books. 

Her surviving works include documenting religious visions, health and science writings and theatrical poems. ...She wrote two works on natural science and medicine, Physica and Causa et cure and many other treatises. Hildegard von Bingen died at Rupertsberg, near her home town of Bingen on 17 Sept 1179. 

Source: The Kennedy Center