St Hildegard of Bingen: Viriditas, creation and leadership

By Simon Taylor

Saint of the day, St Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) was a Benedictine abbess, mystic, theologian, composer, writer and observer of the natural world. The concept of viriditas is probably the best single idea for understanding Hildegard. A modern interpretation might be that good leadership, good communities and good societies should make life flourish rather than diminish it. 

St Hildegard of Bingen offers a powerful way to think about leadership through her profound relationship with nature. Central to her spirituality was the idea of viriditas—the “greening” or life-giving vitality present throughout creation. For Hildegard, nature was not simply a resource available for human use. It formed part of an interconnected living order in which human beings, communities and the natural world depended upon one another. Leadership, viewed through this perspective, carries a responsibility to protect, nurture and enable life to flourish.

This connects closely with servant leadership. The servant leader does not regard people, organisations or natural resources merely as instruments for achieving objectives. Rather, leadership involves stewardship: holding resources in trust, caring for others and accepting responsibility for the wider community and environment. My earlier research similarly identified stewardship as extending to natural resources and environmental responsibility, while the ultimate concern of servant leadership is that people should grow and develop.

Hildegard deepens this idea because flourishing is not limited to the individual follower. A person’s wellbeing is connected to the wellbeing of the community and of creation itself. A leader therefore creates conditions in which people, relationships, institutions and the environment can remain healthy and life-giving.

Her message is particularly relevant in an age of environmental degradation and organisational pressure. Leadership should not merely ask, “What can we achieve?” but also “What are we nurturing, what are we damaging, and what will remain after us?” Hildegard therefore adds an important ecological dimension to servant leadership: the good leader is not simply a servant of people but a steward of life, community and creation, seeking to leave each more capable of flourishing.

“Does my leadership bring life?”

This is a simple question, but perhaps one of the most demanding questions a leader can ask.

For St Hildegard of Bingen, viriditas expressed the greening, life-giving vitality of creation—the capacity for life to grow, heal and flourish. Scripture carries the same image. Humanity is placed in creation “to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15), while Christ declares: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Perhaps we should judge leadership the same way. After people encounter my leadership, are they more alive or less alive?

Perhaps the most important question at the end of each day is not “What did I achieve?”, but “What did my leadership help to flourish today?”