R135: Arnold I. von Valcourt an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting and Sender
Arnold, provost of Saint Andrew in Cologne, greets Hildegard as his beloved mother in Christ and wishes her well-being in the Lord.
Arnold, provost. To Hildegard. To Hildegard, lady and dearest mother, Arnold. The unworthy provost of Saint Andrew in Cologne. May you always fare well in the Lord.
Confession of Distress
Arnold confesses the many inward and outward tribulations afflicting his soul and acknowledges Hildegard's knowledge of his suffering through both personal acquaintance and divine revelation.
With how many temptations and tribulations, inwardly and outwardly, my soul may be distressed— you know, dearest lady, as much from my own words and presence as from divine revelation.1 Now therefore, because I am failing and see no progress toward God in myself—2
Plea for Guidance and Prayer
Arnold begs Hildegard not to hide God's revelations or wise counsel from him, confesses his fear and spiritual poverty, and asks her to intercede for his soul.
I've written to you, my lady, ready to do whatever you instruct me to do — whether it comes to me through divine revelation or through your wise counsel. Whatever you instruct me to do, whether through divine revelation or through your wisdom. Don't hold back. Don't hide it from me. Don't conceal my wickedness, I beg you. Such as my soul is in its poverty, I am afraid of even the least thing. And I tremble at the thought of being swallowed up entirely into the depths. Therefore intercede and pray for my soul in its poverty.
Final Blessing
Arnold closes by wishing Hildegard flourishing in Christ and declaring the Lord's presence with her and all who belong to her.
Thriving in Christ, dearest mother, The Lord is with you! and with all who are yours.
Read the original Latin
Arnoldus prepositus. hildegardi. Hildigardi dominę et matri carissimę arnoldus. sancti Andreę in colonia prepositus immeritus. semper in domino ualere. Quantis temptationum tribulationibus intus et exterius angustietur anima mea. tam ex uerbis meę presentię quam ex reuelatione diuina carissima domina nosti. Nunc igitur quia deficio et nullum profectum quantum ad deum in me uideo!
scripsi ad te dominam meam paratus facere. quicquid mihi siue reuelatione diuina siue consilij tui sapientia preceperis. Ne parcas. ne celes. nec iniquitatem meam abscondas obsecro. pauperis animę meę quantulumcumque timeo. et me totum in profundum dimergi pauesco. Quapropter intercede et ora pro paupere anima mea.
ualens in christo mater carissima. Dominus tecum! et cum omnibus tuis.
Notes
- 1 ↩The correlative tam…quam is rendered 'as much…as' to preserve the balanced comparison between personal acquaintance and divine revelation as sources of Hildegard's knowledge.
- 2 ↩Nunc igitur is rendered 'Now therefore' to capture both the temporal nunc and the inferential igitur. The exclamation mark in the source is preserved as reflecting Arnold's emotional urgency.
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