Monticello parish offers play on life of St. Hildegard

Presentation Sister Carrie Link has found inspiration in the life of St. Hildegard of Bingen, a German saint of the 12th century. She hopes to pass it on to others in the form of a one-act play she wrote and will offer at St. Henry in Monticello 7 p.m. Feb. 3. 

Called “Evening with St. Hildegard,” it will feature a small cast and Sister Carrie playing the lead role of St. Hildegard, who lived in a small German town called Bingen. The cast includes Peter Aitcheson, a professional actor who also is the director. 

“This has evolved since my pilgrimage to her homeland in 2013 and walking in her footsteps,” Sister Carrie said of her motivation for writing the play. “That was when I first learned about Hildegard. And, as part of this tour, we actually visited the current Benedictine monastery in the area that she founded. … There are 50 Benedictine nuns living there today.” 

St. Hildegard, who died on Sept. 17, 1179, was canonized in 2012, and her feast day is Sept. 17. Sister Carrie was in the saint’s hometown for the first celebration of her feast day, and witnessed a procession of her relics through the town. 

“According to what we know of her, she was the 10th child (in her family), and her parents offered her to God as a tithe,” said Sister Carrie, who leads formation for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults at St. Henry. “She then would live out her life in a monastery. She’s considered a prophet and a visionary and a writer and composer. She authored nine major books and founded two monasteries.” 

There is no cost for admission to the play. Freewill donations will be accepted.