R109: Abt H. von Flonheim an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting and Humble Submission
The abbot greets Hildegard with titles of honor and offers her his devotion, prayer, and obedience.
Abbot of Flanheim. Hildegard. To the holy and venerable mother in Christ, her lady. Hildegard. of Rupertsberg. H. Provost of Flanheim, though unworthy. Send her much devotion and devoted service in prayer and obedience.
Desire to Serve and Prayer for Mercy
He expresses his longing to serve her holiness, asks for her prayers, and seeks both gratitude for good and repentance for evil.
God, the searcher of hearts, knows. How gladly I would honor your holiness with my services. if by God's ordinance I were to receive both the place and the ability. In the meantime, then, please accept the devotion I ask of you.1 And just as I asked long ago with a word, pray for me to the Lord, that he may reveal to you whatever concerns me. so that I may return thanks for the good things. but for the evils, I may deserve to make satisfying repentance with worthy fruits to God before I die.2 Whatever the Lord shows you concerning me.
Request for Guidance and Farewell
He asks Hildegard to write what the Lord reveals about him, commends himself to her prayers, and explains that bodily weakness prevents a longer letter.
Please be so kind as to put in writing what should be done. And remember me in your prayers. I would have written to you more personally and at greater length if my physical weakness hadn't prevented it.
Read the original Latin
Abbas de Flanheim. hildegardis. Sanctę et uenerandę in christo matri suę domine. hildegardi. de pinguia. h. de flanheim prepositus licet indignus. multam orationis et obsequij deuotionem.
Cordium inspector deus nouit. quam libenter sanctitatem uestram obsequijs honorarem. si ordinatione diuina locum et facultatem acciperem. Interim igitur accepta sit uobis queso deuocio mea. et sicut dudum uerbo rogaui orate pro me ad dominum ut uobis reuelet quę circa me sunt. quatenus de bonis reddere gratias. de malis uero dignis penitentię fructibus deo satisfacere merear antequam moriar. Quicquid dominus ostendit uobis de me.
scripto mihi significare dignemini. et orationibus uestris me habetote commendatum. Familiarius et amplius uobis scripsissem! si corporis infirmitas non obstitisset.
Notes
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