R115: Abt N. von Ilbenstadt an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
A Humble Petition
Brother N., an aged and destitute abbot, humbly introduces himself and his request to be admitted, along with his flock, into Hildegard's community.
An abbot in advanced age. to Hildegard. to her own lady and teacher, Hildegard. Brother N. destitute and poor in advanced age. together with the flock entrusted to him. to be admitted to the perpetual community of virgins. I have often importuned you with many letters.
A Plea for Mercy
The abbot questions whether his rejection is due to sacrilege or lack of merit, then appeals to God's impartial grace and the call to welcome the little ones.
I have met you in person many times with a petition! I was never able to wrest letters from you, as you promised. Is it that something which is believed to be a sacrilege — is it true? My own lineage doesn't allow this — a lowly birth or a lowly rejection of one's person! Or perhaps, what's more believable — that there's no intercession of merits? The apostle says to the wise and to the foolish, I am a debtor. And truth herself. Let the little ones come to me.
A Final Appeal
Denying any favoritism, the abbot urgently begs Hildegard to hear his prayer and intercede with God to lift him from his many tribulations.
Surely you don't play favorites, do you? God forbid. But now — to me, who cry out to you so often — please, just this once, hear me in my poverty. And I beseech our Lord on behalf of this wretch. that he might relieve his servant, who trusts in him — surrounded as I am by many and various tribulations and distresses — that he might deign to lift me up.
Read the original Latin
Abbas in eluestat. hildegardi. Dominę suę et magistrę hildegardi. frater N. in eluestat inops et pauper. una cum grege sibi commisso. perenni uirginum admitti collegio. Multis uos sepe pulsaui litteris.
multa uos presentialiter peticione conueni! numquam a uobis uti promisistis litteras extorquere potui. Numquid quod credi nefas est. hoc generis mei non admittit uilis nacio aut uilis personę abiectio! aut forsitan quod magis credi potest nulla meritorum intercessio? Sapientibus ait apostolus et insipientibus debitor sum. et ipsa ueritas. sinite paruulos uenire ad me.
Numquid apud te mater est personarum acceptio? Absit. Nunc autem sepius ad te clamantem. uel semel me pauperem exaudi. et dominum nostrum pro misero exora. quatenus seruulum in se confidentem. multis et uariis tribulationibus et angustijs circumdatum releuare dignetur.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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