R103: Abt E. von Averbode an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Salutation and Sender
The abbot E. of Eberbach greets Hildegard of Bingen, commending her to God's grace and the daily reward of the Gospel.
The abbot of Eberbach. To Hildegard. Crowned with the flowers of holy virtues. To Hildegard. Most glorious handmaid of Christ, from Bingen. E. Humble and unworthy provider of the brothers in Eberbach, in the pursuit of good purpose. To be repaid with the daily denarius of the Gospel.✦
Thanksgiving for Hildegard's God-Given Light
The abbot gives thanks that God has raised Hildegard as a shining lamp and spread her good fragrance like Christ's aroma to the world.
I will never stop giving immense thanks to God, who has placed your person on high, like a lamp burning and shining, not hidden under a bushel, but set on a lampstand. who also does not cease to protect and console your revered holiness through angelic visitation and the grace of his Spirit. who also spreads the good report of your reputation not only in the region of Germany, but also in our own and other parts of the world, far and wide, like a good fragrance of his own, he has scattered it. So that rightly you are able to say with the apostle: We are Christ's good fragrance to God in every place. And we, congratulating such a great summit of your devotion, are compelled to say:
Bridal Praise and Ecclesial Pillar
Using Song of Songs and Pauline imagery, the abbot celebrates Hildegard as beautiful bride, nourishing mother, and an immovable pillar of the Church through whom the redeemed learn God's will.
How beautiful you are in your delights, daughter of the prince! We will exult and rejoice in you.✦ Mindful of your breasts, more than wine!✦ Through these, we who are weak find that we may draw sustenance, and that the strong and the robust — taking solid food according to the wisdom given you by God — can say without reproach.✦ Your lips distill finest myrrh.✦ And a honeycomb distills from your lips, O bride, beloved of God.✦ For a city set on a mountain of virtues cannot be hidden.✦ Because the Lord has established you as an immovable and unshaken pillar in the midst of his Church.✦ So that amid the troubled crises of this world, the people — redeemed by the price of his own blood — may learn through you.✦
Wishes for Hildegard's Growth and Prayer for Himself
The abbot prays that Hildegard may advance in virtue and see God in Zion, while humbly asking for the reward of escaping punishment despite his unworthiness.
What to pursue. What one ought to guard against. And equipped with the examples of your own good virtues. May she advance from day to day. And ascending from virtue to virtue, not sluggishly. May she be able to see the God of gods in Zion. Therefore, trusting in the intercession of your prayers. Even though I am not worthy to receive the crown of labors!
Closing Commendation and Farewell
Commending himself to Hildegard's prayers because of his sins, the abbot bids her farewell and asks her to beseech the Lord for him, greeting her with God-given words.
At least let escaping punishment be my reward. So I earnestly commend myself to your prayers. because by my great sins I have often offended God's mercy.1 Farewell, most beloved lady. And beseech the Lord for me, the unworthy one. and greetings with the words given to you by God.
Read the original Latin
Abbas in Eberbuthde. hildegardi. Floribus uirtutum sanctarum redimitę. hildegardi. gloriosissimę ancillę christi de binga. E. humilis et indignus prouisor fratrum in eberbuthde pro studio boni propositi. denario diurno euangelico remunerari.
Gratias inmensas referre non cessabo deo. qui uestrę personę celsitudine tanquam lucernam ardentem et lucentem non modio subtectam sed super candelabrum posuit. qui angelica uisitatione et spiritus sui gratia uestram reuerandam sanctitatem tueri ac consolari non desistit. qui etiam bonam famam opinionis uestrę non solum in regione germanię. sed etiam in nostris atque alijs mundi partibus longe lateque uelut bonum suum odorem respersit. ut merito cum apostolo dicere possitis! christi bonus odor sumus deo in omni loco. Et nos congratulantes tanto pietatis uestrę culmini dicere conpellimur.
quam pulcra facta es in delicijs filia principis exultabimus et letabimur in te. memores uberum tuorum super uinum! in quibus nos infirmi inuenimus quod sugamus et fortes quique ac robusti secundum a deo datam uobis sapientiam solidum cibum sumentes dicere irreprehensibiliter possint. labia tua distillantia mirram primam! et fauus distillans labia tua o sponsa deo dilecta. Ciuitas enim in monte uirtutum collocata abscondi non potestis. quia collumpnam immobilem et inconcussam in medio ęcclesię suę dominus uos constituit. ut inter erumpnosa huius mundi discrimina plebs sua suo sanguinis precio redempta per uos discat.
quid appetere. quid cauere debeat. et exemplis bonarum uirtutum uestrarum instructa. de die in diem proficiat. et de uirtute in uirtutem non segniter ascendens. uidere possit deum deorum in syon. Obtentu igitur precum uestrarum confisus. etsi dignus non sim coronam laborum percipere!
saltem sit mihi premium fugisse supplicium. Vestris igitur orationibus studiose me commendo. quia magnis peccatis sepius dei pietatem offendi. Vale domina dilectissima. et pro me indigno dominum exora. uerbisque a deo tibi datis saluta.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Matt.20.1-Matt.20.16 — For the kingdom of heaven is like a man, a master of a house, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Matt.20.2 — And when he agreed with the workers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Matt.20.3 — And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the marketplace, idle. Matt.20.4 — and to them he said, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' Matt.20.5 — But he went out again about the sixth and ninth hour, and did the same. Matt.20.6 — And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here all day idle?' Matt.20.7 — They answered him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.' Matt.20.8 — And when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last and going to the first.' Matt.20.9 — And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius. Matt.20.10 — And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they also received each a denarius. Matt.20.11 — But when they received it, they grumbled against the master of the house. Matt.20.12 — saying, 'These last ones worked one hour, and you made them equal to us, who bore the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' Matt.20.13 — But he answered one of them and said, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?' Matt.20.14 — Take what is yours and go. But I want to give to this last one the same as I give to you. Matt.20.15 — Or is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is mine? Or is your eye evil because I am good? Matt.20.16 — So the last will be first, and the first will be last.
- ↩Song.7.5-Song.7.6 — Your neck is like the tower of ivory; your eyes are pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim; your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, facing toward Damascus. Song.7.6 — Your head upon you is like Carmel, and the flowing hair of your head like purple; a king is held captive by your tresses.
- ↩Song.1.1-Song.1.2 — The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's. Song.1.2 — Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine.
- ↩1Cor.3.2;Heb.5.14 — I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet able. But indeed, even now you are not able, Heb.5.14 — But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
- ↩Song.5.5 — I rose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, and my fingers with flowing myrrh upon the handles of the bolt.
- ↩Song.4.11 — Your lips drip, bride — honey and milk are beneath your tongue; the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
- ↩Matt.5.14 — You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
- ↩1Tim.3.15;Gal.2.9 — but if I am delayed, so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and foundation of the truth. Gal.2.9 — And when James, Cephas, and John, those recognized as pillars, perceived the grace given to me, they gave Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
- ↩1Pet.1.18-1Pet.1.19;1Cor.6.20 — knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things—silver or gold—from your futile way of life handed down from your fathers, 1Pet.1.19 — but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot 1Cor.6.20 — For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.
Notes
- 1 ↩pietas rendered 'mercy' here in the sense of God's compassionate goodness; could also bear the sense of 'piety/tender devotion.'
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
Read one voice like Hildegard's every morning
Chosen Portion delivers daily excerpts from Hildegard and 77 other historic devotional writers, free on iOS.
Hildegard directed souls through short written portions sent one at a time, and Chosen Portion continues that letter-a-day rhythm as daily devotionals.
- Daily 2-minute readings including Hildegard's letters and visions
- 78 complete historic works, translated into modern readable English
- A weekly email tracing one writer's story in depth