Returning to the Ancient Wisdom of Hildegard of Bingen for Advancing Caring Science

Hildegard of Bingen, a prolific 12th-century Benedictine nun, produced scholarly and artistic works relevant to contemporary nursing. Using a hermeneutic analysis of primary and secondary sources, we identified and elaborated themes of ecological consciousness, compassionate love, universal communion, and mystical wisdom within her work with the hope of deepening an understanding of human flourishing through spiritual human–earth–universe interconnections. Hildegard’s work, although created during the European medieval period, inspires new reflections about nursing and caring science and the essential power of love and compassion for oneself, each other, the earth, and those we serve.