R112: Hildegard von Rupertsberg an Abt W. von Hane
Three Lights and the Best Pastoral Way
Hildegard, in the living light, distinguishes three spiritual lights and teaches that pastoral care, heard or refused, is the best, warning against preferment.
Hildegard's response. The living light speaks. The river gave the first cause that you endured in your heart. The second shows its brightness. But the third, which is found in pastoral care, is the best. So if your sheep hear your voice. But if they do not hear you. Flee preferment!
Talent, Authority, and Submission
Hildegard exhorts the abbot to steward his talent, accept fraternal limits on his authority, and prefer compassionate care for others over solitary self-denial.
Just be sure you give a proper accounting of your talent.✦ For if you can't work through your authority among your brothers, then be like them in submission. But I say to you: You're worn out by the weariness of the shifting changes in the way your mind lives and turns. So it's better for you that you feel distress for your other brothers than to restrain yourself alone in subjection.
Live in the Fiery Giver and Keep Watch
Hildegard closes by urging the abbot to live in the fiery divine Giver and remain spiritually vigilant.
Live, then, in the Giver who is fire. And don't grow slack in a watchful frame of mind.
Read the original Latin
Responsvm hildegardis. Lux uiuens dicit. Prima causa quam corde tuo sustinuisti flumen dedit. secunda claritatem ostendit. tercia uero quę in pastorali cura est optima est. ita si oues tuę uocem tuam audiunt. Quod si te non audiunt. prelationem fuge!
sic tamen quod recte racionem reddas de talento tuo. Nam si non potes operari per magistrationem in fratribus tuis. esto similis eis in subiectione. Sed dico tibi. Tu fatigatus es in tedio diuersitatis uicissitudinum conuersationis tuę mentis. Vnde magis tibi expedit. ut angustiam habeas pro alijs fratribus tuis. quam te solum in subiectione coerceas.
Uiue ergo in igneo datore. et ne tardes in uigili sensu.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Matt.25.14-Matt.25.30 — For it is like a man going on a journey, who called his own servants and entrusted his property to them. Matt.25.15 — And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his own ability, and he went away immediately. Matt.25.16 — The one who had received the five talents went and traded with them and gained five more. Matt.25.17 — In the same way, the one who had received two talents gained two more. Matt.25.18 — But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug in the ground and hid his master's silver. Matt.25.19 — After a long time the master of those servants comes and settles accounts with them. Matt.25.20 — And the one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, 'Lord, you entrusted five talents to me; see, I have gained five more talents.' Matt.25.21 — His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' Matt.25.22 — The one who had received the two talents also came forward and said, 'Lord, you entrusted two talents to me; see, I have gained two more.' Matt.25.23 — His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' Matt.25.24 — Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward and said, 'Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter seed.' Matt.25.25 — And being afraid, I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours. Matt.25.26 — But his master answered him, 'You wicked and lazy slave! You knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter seed. Matt.25.27 — Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back what was mine with interest. Matt.25.28 — So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. Matt.25.29 — For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Matt.25.30 — And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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