“In her song, O nobilissima viriditas, Hildegard sings about the noble power of viridity: it is green like the plants of the earth, but also golden like the sun and red like the dawn. That means viriditas is not just about nature — it is a power that is connected to the divine mystery.

“Today, what shall we do with Hildegard’s thoughts and songs about viriditas?

“As a theologian, I see Hildegard not merely as a woman mystic but also as a naturalist and medical practitioner who investigates the powers of nature and describes their healing effects on human beings. Therefore, I say: viriditas is the green power of life. The green power of life is divine power. Divine power is the power of creation and it is healing power.”