The Feast Day of St. Hilda

18Nov
My child, keep your father’s commandment,
  and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
Bind them upon your heart always;
  tie them around your neck.
When you walk, they will lead you;
  when you lie down, they will watch over you;
  and when you awake, they will talk with you.
For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
  and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

— Proverbs 6:20-23


In 627 AD, King Edwin of Northumbria and his entire household were baptized, enabling Christianity to spread further through the British Isles. Edwin’s grandniece Hilda was 13 year’s old at the time, but this baptism would change her life forever. Hilda soon became a nun, and would eventually establish and run several monasteries. One of her most well-known would be Whitby Abbey, a monastery containing both a house for men and a house for women religious. Lessons at Whitby Abbey were taught in English, were well known for their devotion to Christian teaching, and would end up raising up five bishops for the Church. 


Hilda is remembered for her remarkable diplomacy in helping a struggling Church to navigate between her native Celtic traditions and the emerging power of Rome moving into Britain from continental Europe. Today (Nov. 18) is the feast day for Hilda of Whitby.


As unpopular as it is to talk about both honoring one’s mother and father AND practicing discipline in our modern and enlightened world, occasionally I need to get over myself and reflect on what some pretty outstanding historical figures have to offer us in our own time, especially during times we seem to have failed learning anything from our past. Hilda is one of those figures. 


In a culture not often receptive to the gifts of a strong woman, Hilda managed to be a respected leader, teacher, administrator, and pastor. She seems to have been able to understand the value of the past while making way for the progress of new ideas. How? By staying true to deep ideals and faith through practice and discipline - leading by learning to follow first. 


What did that 13-year-old girl know when she received the waters of baptism? That her receiving called her to a life of giving? That is the challenge and joy of the Christian faith. So when I find myself up against things that seemingly will not change, or feeling less hopeful about the way the world seems to be headed, I give thanks for folks like Hilda who held to their principles despite the world in which they lived, practicing justice and mercy, forgiving those who did not know what they were doing, and living into the love and compassion that Christ offers the world. Surprisingly, change happens and the Kingdom of God moves a little closer to us.


Musical Reflection - Be Thou My Vision - Eden's Bridge


O God of peace, by whose grace the abbess Hilda was endowed with gifts of justice, prudence, and strength to rule as a wise mother over the nuns and monks of her household: Raise up these gifts in us, that we, following her example and prayers, may build up one another in love to the benefit of your Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

WomenKingdom of GodSaints

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