R155: Äbtissin M. von Wechterswinkel an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting and praise
The abbess M. greets Hildegard with honor and acknowledges the widespread fame of her holiness.
The abbess of Wechterswinkel. To Hildegard. To the lady and mother most dear, most worthy of all praise. M. Called by God's grace abbess of Wechterswinkel. Together with all her sisters. Filial love and complete submission. Since the fragrance of your holiness has spread far and wide throughout the world.
Desire for spiritual motherhood
The abbess and her sisters rejoice in Hildegard's dignity and humbly ask to be received as her children under her prayers.
We have come to recognize that by God's grace this has grown to such a great degree that now in the whole world the signs of your virtues are commended by all the children of the Church with worthy veneration! We too, though unworthy, by the privilege of special love longing to be enrolled in your motherhood. As far as our smallness allows, we rejoice with you in every way at so great a dignity of yours. Therefore, sweetest mother, we implore your holiness with the whole affection of our heart, that you receive us in the place of children. and deign to cherish us under the protection of your holy prayers. so that, with the most holy merits of your prayers coming to our aid, we may deserve at last to reach the course of the path we have taken hold of.
Personal humility and prayer for guidance
The abbess confesses her unworthiness, entrusts herself to Hildegard's prayers, and asks for help in her pastoral care and eternal hope, while expressing desire for Hildegard's admonitory letters.
I, however, who seem to surpass others not by merits but by the mere dignity of title— with earnest entreaties I entrust myself to your holiness with singular devotion. Praying that, through the pious intervention of prayers, I may so carry out the care of the sheep entrusted to me. And that I may be made a fellow sharer with them in eternal life. Know that I have always desired to receive something from you— through which I may be able to have remembrance of you. namely, the admonitory letters which, for the love of God, I will always keep with willing heart.
Sisters' commendation
Certain sisters especially love Hildegard and commend themselves to her pure prayers.
Certain of our sisters also embrace you with a special love. They commend themselves to you in all things through your purest prayers.
Read the original Latin
Abbatissa in vvethdersvvinkele. hildegardi. Hildigardi dominę et matri dilectissimę et omni laude dignissimę. M. dei gratia dicta abbatissa in vvethdersvvinkele. cum omnibus sororibus suis. filialem dilectionem et omnem subiectionem. Quoniam odorem sanctitatis uestrę longe lateque per orbem terrę diffusum.
dei gratia in tantum creuisse cognouimus. ut iam in toto mundo uirtutum uestrarum insignia ab uniuersis ęcclesię filijs digna ueneratione commendentur! nos quoque licet indignę specialis dilectionis priuilegio. maternitati uestrę ascribi optantes. quantum licet pro nostri paruitate tantę dignitati uestrę omnimodis congaudemus. Quapropter dulcissima mater sanctitatem uestram toto cordis affectu imploramus ut nos filiorum loco recipere. ac sanctarum precum uestrarum tutamine confouere dignemini. quatenus uestris sanctissismis opitulantibus meritis arreptę uię stadium tandem contingere mereamur.
Ego autem quę ceteris non meritis sed sola nominis dignitate prestare uideor. obnixis precibus sanctitati uestrę singulari deuotione me comitto. orans ut pio orationum interuentu. ita ouium mihi commissarum curam agere possim. quod pariter cum illis in eterna uita consors efficiar. Semper optasse me scitote aliquid de uobis accipere. per quod uestri memoriam habere possim. uidelicet litteras commonitorias quas pro dei amore libenti animo semper obseruabo.
Quedam etiam ex sororibus nostris speciali dilectione uos complectentes. uestris purissimis se per omnia commendant orationibus.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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