A treasury of Alice von Hildebrand, now available as a podcast
Join Alice von Hildebrand—Lily to her friends—as she brings her timeless wit and winsome charm to bear on topics both timely and eternal, from faith to femininity, from marriage to death, and many things in-between.
Drawn from her hundreds of appearances on television and radio, and fully remastered for this archival podcast, Lily: The Voice of Alice von Hildebrand will introduce listeners to this great lady who, despite her many esteemed publications, was most expressive in the spoken word.
Respected by popes, loved by students, and an inspiration to generations, Lily lived an amazing, faithful life. Listen here as we continue her legacy.
About Lily
Alice “Lily” von Hildebrand (née Jourdain) was born in Belgium on March 11, 1923. She and her family immigrated to the United States as refugees after Belgium was invaded by the Nazis in 1940. She studied philosophy at Fordham University, where she graduated with a PhD in 1949. From 1947 until 1984, she taught at Hunter College in New York City. After fourteen years of misogynistic and anti-Catholic discrimination, she received tenure, due in part to outstanding reviews from her students, who found her dedication to objective truth to be both captivating and life-changing.
While a student at Manhattanville College, Lily made the acquaintance of Dietrich von Hildebrand at his home, where she had been invited to participate in his “Liturgical Evenings” by her professor, Balduin Schwarz. The two became philosophical partners, and were eventually married in 1959 (Dietrich’s first wife, Margarete, died in 1957). Lily and Dietrich remained married until his death in January 1977.
As a widow, Lily dedicated her life to the promotion of her late husband’s legacy and philosophical work, while at the same time blazing her own path in defense of Catholic femininity and the ideals of Christian marriage.
Lily played a vital role in co-founding the Hildebrand Project, originally dedicated to her husband’s legacy, and now to hers as well.
Books by Alice von Hildebrand
Alice von Hildebrand was the author of a multitude of books and articles. A collection of some of her essays can be found at alicevonhildebrand.org. While not all of her works are in print, several are still widely available.
Remnant of Paradise
The first collection of essays by Alice von Hildebrand, published shortly after her death in 2021, includes topics like friendship, love, and grief. The book includes special remembrances by friends, students, and colleagues.
Memoirs of a Happy Failure
From fleeing the Nazis as a young girl to the misogyny and anti-Catholicism she faced as a professor of philosophy, Lily’s memoirs reveal an extraordinary life of love, humility, and courage.
The Privilege of Being a Woman
Using the model of womanly grace and dignity — the Virgin Mary — Alice von Hildebrand delivers a profound exploration of the unique value of feminine virtues against those who would denigrate women.
Man & Woman: A Divine Invention
The sequel to The Privilege of Being a Woman, Lily discusses the concept of “complementarity” and how man and woman reveal the personal dimension of God.
By Love Refined
Lily’s marriage advice to young brides, formed by her own experiences, is presented in an epistolary format.
Support the Legacy of Dietrich and Alice von Hildebrand.
We have big plans to continue promoting Alice von Hildebrand’s legacy alongside her husband’s, including new editions of her out-of-print and never-before-published books, a podcast, and academic events in her honor. This is only possible because of the generosity of our benefactors.
