R129: Propst N. von Cappenberg an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Salutation and Desire to Visit
The provost greets Hildegard with reverence and praises the widespread fragrance of her holy life.
The provost of Cappenberg. To Hildegard. To his own reverend lady, virgin, and bride of Christ, Hildegard. Brother N. Prelate of the servants of God in Cappenberg. Of holy virginity and of pious conduct. Reward and perpetual crown. The reputation for religious life and for conduct acceptable to God, spread everywhere through your church, delights many beyond the fragrance of balsam and other perfumes.
Hindered by Storms, Sending a Representative
The provost explains that though he desired to come, storms, church turmoil, and frailty hindered him, so he sends the letter-bearer as his proxy.
We too have begun to catch the fragrance of him at last — we who live in our small cells as though in underground caves. And so I, the least of all, desiring only to follow that fragrance — I arranged to come to you. But in such a whirlwind of storms and tempests — in which the whole church is now shaken and thrown into confusion — I was hindered. Fearing for my affairs and for my body, I was delayed and couldn't come. I ask, however, through Christ who dwells in you — that you'd treat the bearer [REDACTED] this letter as though he were myself in person.
Petition for Counsel and Consolation
The provost asks Hildegard to hear her messenger as himself and to share God's counsel and consolation for the church's present state.
Hear our beloved brother as though he were me, standing there in your presence. For I have directed him to you in order to seek the counsel of the Spirit of God, who dwells in you, concerning the present state of our church! I have directed him to you. You indeed are what belongs to God. What belongs to love. Do not disdain to share what belongs to devotion with us. So that through him who consoles many in you, we too may find consolation. Having been consoled, we may breathe again.
Closing Deference and Farewell
The letter closes with humble deference, a request for fraternal communication, brief reply, and a Christ-centered farewell with a plea for remembrance in prayer.
Beyond your sweetness. We don't presume to make it harsh with clumsy words. Even more earnestly, we beg you. So you won't hesitate to share certain things with a brother who is present. And finally, to write back a few words on the very edge of a small sheet.1 With all of you who have been entrusted by Christ. Farewell in Christ! And remember me, for His sake, before Him.
Read the original Latin
Prepositus in kappenberch. hildegardi. Dominę suę reuerendę uirgini et sponsę christi hildegardi. frater N. prelatus seruorum dei in kappenberch. sanctę uirginitatis et pię conuersationis. premium et coronam perpetuam. Fama religionis et deo acceptę conuersationis uestrę ubique in ęcclesia respersa multos super odorem balsami ceterorumque odoramentorum delectat.
quem et nos in cellulis quasi in subterraneis caueis extremi tandem odorare cepimus. Vnde et ego minimus omnium odorem tantum sequi cupiens. ad uos uenire disposui. sed in tanto turbine tempestatum et procellarum. quo tota ęcclesia nunc quatitur et turbatur impeditus. rebus et corpori timens retardatus uenire non potui. Rogo autem per eum qui in uobis habitat christum. ut presentem litterarum portitorem.
fratrem nostrum dilectum tanquam meipsum presentem audiatis. Ad consulendum enim spiritum dei qui in uobis habitat de presenti statu ęcclesię nostre! eum ad uos direxi. Uos quidem quod dei est. quod caritatis est. quod pietatis est nobis communicare non dedignemini. ut nos per eum qui in uobis multos consolatur. consolati respiremus.
Vltra dulcedinem uestram. inculto sermone amaricare non presumimus. Obnixius autem supplicantes uobis. ut non pigeat uos aliqua fratri presenti indicare. et tandem per pauca in extrema ungula scedulę rescribere. Cum omnibus uobis a christo commissis. in christo ualete! et mei propter ipsum ad ipsum mementote.
Notes
- 1 ↩ungula + scedulę: 'ungula' may mean a small strip or corner of parchment; 'scedulę' (schedulae) is a small sheet or scrap. The image is writing in the limited space at the margin or foot of a note.
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