Saints of September: Hildegard of Bingen, Cosmas, and Damian
Each month, the church calendar invites us to pause and remember men and women whose lives bore witness to God in extraordinary ways. In September, we honor a visionary polymath whose music and theology continue to inspire, and two brothers whose generosity and courage spread the gospel in the face of persecution.
St. Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179)
Feast Day: September 17
Born in 1098 in Germany, Hildegard of Bingen was what we might today call a Renaissance woman—though she lived centuries before the Renaissance. She was a writer, composer, philosopher, mystic, and even a medical writer. Her music, often written for use in worship, still resonates today, and she even composed a full musical morality play, Ordo Virtutum.
From the time she was a young girl, Hildegard reported receiving vivid visions. She described them as seeing “all things in the light of God through the five senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch.” For years she hesitated to share them, fearing misunderstanding or rejection. But eventually Pope Eugenius himself encouraged her to write them down, affirming their authenticity as gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The result was Scivias, a book that interpreted 26 of her visionary experiences. Late in her life, Hildegard commissioned an illuminated manuscript of Scivias. It survived wars and centuries of history—until World War II, when it went missing during the bombing of Dresden. Another of her manuscripts, Riesencodex, was later recovered, but the mystery of Sciviasremains a reminder of how fragile and precious these windows into faith history can be.
Hildegard’s life reminds us that the Spirit speaks through creativity, through the senses, and through the courage to put divine visions into words and music. As she once wrote:
“God made [us] mirrors of all heaven’s graces.”
— Hildegard of Bingen
Sts. Cosmas and Damian (3rd century)
Feast Day: September 26
Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers, born in Arabia in the 3rd century, who trained as physicians. Unlike many of their peers, they practiced medicine without charge, healing bodies as an expression of their faith in Christ. Their compassion and generosity drew many people to Christianity, showing that love in action often speaks louder than words.
They lived in the Roman province of Cilicia (modern-day Turkey) at a time when Christianity was spreading but still deeply contested. Under the emperor Diocletian, Christians faced waves of persecution. Diocletian was committed to restoring Rome’s “Golden Age,” which meant a return to traditional gods and rituals. Christianity was seen as a threat to this vision.
The brothers were arrested under Governor Lysias, condemned, and eventually executed in Syria. Yet their witness could not be silenced. Despite persecution, Christianity continued to grow, spreading especially in the Eastern provinces. By the year 300, it’s estimated there were six million Christians across the Roman Empire—nearly 10% of the population.
Cosmas and Damian’s story reminds us that courage and generosity can flourish even under pressure. Their refusal to profit from healing, and their steadfast faith even unto death, reveal a gospel that outlasts empires.
Why These Stories Still Matter
Hildegard invites us to see creativity, music, and even our senses as ways to encounter God. Her visions remind us that faith is not only intellectual but also embodied and imaginative.
Cosmas and Damian remind us that service—especially when it costs us something—can be one of the most powerful testimonies of faith.
Both point us toward a Christianity that is holistic: deeply spiritual, profoundly physical, courageous, and generous.
