R123: Propst N. von Wadgassen an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Salutation and Prayer
The provost of Wadgassen greets Hildegard and the brides of Christ, sending prayer and affectionate devotion.
The provost in Wadgassen. Hildegard. To Lady Hildegard. To the brides of Christ who are in the rich, venerable magistracy! N. In Wadgassen. A prelate, though unworthy. (Send) prayer with all the affectionate devotion of love.
The Fire of True Love
Love without affection is like cold fire; true love must be full of warmth and feeling to unite hearts in God.
Love without affection. It seems most like a cold fire. For just as fire without its heat cannot weld iron to iron, so also love without affection can by no means accomplish anything. so that the hearts of believers may be one heart and one soul in God.✦ True love is itself full of feeling.
Love Binds the Faithful
True love unites souls with God and with one another, creating shared joy, shared sorrow, and holy remembrance.
This is what makes a soul cling to God! so that one spirit may be made with him. It binds together the minds of the faithful like a living glue, so that they may be of one will in God. and it makes joy with those who rejoice. and to weep with those who weep. This, certainly, with the Lord granting it. The remembrance of your holiness makes a pleasant recollection for me in the sweetness of holy love.
Longing for Presence and Consolation
The memory of Hildegard whispers to the writer's heart, stirring deep longing for face-to-face encounter and spiritual consolation.
It's she herself, during the celebration of the divine service. The memory of you always whispers to my heart. She herself, even with frequent sighs. She longs for your affection toward me. For a long time now I've wanted to see you face to face. And to speak mouth to mouth. And to reach your intimacy. So that I might at some point have some edification and consolation from you.
Confession of Weakness and a Request
Confessing inner weakness and need, the writer asks Hildegard to visit him if possible, or at least to answer by letter, sustained by her prayers.
I am exceedingly weak within, in my soul! And I am in need of much care. I have. Therefore, because I have great confidence both in you and in the love with which I love you! I ask that you not neglect to visit me sometime. But if it cannot be done in bodily presence— when it pleases you, let it be done by this letter. And always, with the support of your prayers—
Read the original Latin
Prepositus in vvatdegos. hildegardi. Dominę hildegardi. sponsarum christi quę sunt in pinguia uenerabili magistrę! N. in vvatdegos. prelatus quamuis indignus. orationem cum omni affectuosę dilectionis obsequio.
Caritas sine affectu. frigido igni simillima uidetur. Nam sicut ignis sine feruore ferrum ferro conglutinare non ualet. ita et caritas sine affectu. nequaquam efficere potest. ut credentium sit cor unum et anima una in deo. Caritas uera. ipsa est affectuosa.
Hęc animam adherere deo facit! ut unus cum eo spiritus efficiatur. hęc uelut uiuificum gluten mentes fidelium connectit. ut sint unius uoluntatis in deo. facitque gaudium cum gaudentibus. et flere cum flentibus. Hęc certe domino largiente. recordationem sanctitatis uestrę in suauitate sancti amoris iocundam mihi facit.
Ipsa in celebratione diuini officij. memoriam uestri cordi meo semper insusurrat. Ipsa etiam crebris suspirijs. affectum uestrum mihi exoptat. Ex multo utique tempore desideraui facie ad faciem uos uidere. et ore ad os loqui. et ad familiaritatem uestram pertingere. ut edificationem aliquam et consolationem a uobis aliquando habere possem.
Nimis enim infirmus sum intus in anima mea! et curatione multa opus. habeo. Igitur quia et in uobis et in dilectione qua uos diligo fiduciam magnam habeo! rogo ut quandoque me uisitare non negligatis. Quod si fieri nequit presentia corporali. cum placuerit uobis fiat hoc scripto. semper autem orationum uestrarum subsidio.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Acts.4.32 — Now the great number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and not one of them claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but everything they had was held in common.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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