R157: Äbtissin B. von Elten an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting from the Unworthy Abbess
Abbess B. greets Hildegard with humble self-description, casting herself as a sinner sitting at the feet of Jesus with Mary, longing to see her Beloved as he truly is.
The Abbess at Elten. To Hildegard. To the Lady and mother Hildegard, beloved and venerable in Christ, and her intimate in love. B. The Abbess, though unworthy, from Elten. And a repentant sinner. And sitting at the feet of Jesus with Mary.✦ To see her beloved as he truly is.✦
Joy, Intimacy, and Gentle Rebuke
The abbess rejoices in Hildegard's contemplative blessedness, affirms her experience of resting with the Beloved, and gently reproaches her for neglecting to send letters, confident that Hildegard would not neglect her if briefly drawn from contemplation.
I rejoice in the blessedness of your community, most beloved of all women. A blessedness which, just as it can be proven most clearly in the things that delight you, you have found the one whom your soul loves, as fully as mortals can, and now, at last, resting happily with him in the secret chamber of the heart, you taste and see that the Lord is sweet.✦ And I am convinced that this is truly so. I must accept with equanimity the fact that for a long time now you have neglected to visit me through your letters, devoted as I am to you. For I believe that even if you could turn the sharpness of your mind away from the gaze of your beloved for even a moment, and move your foot outside the dwelling place of rest, you would by no means neglect to do so.
Longing, Tears, and Steadfast Love
The abbess asks for consoling letters, grieves that she may never again see Hildegard's face in this life, yet resolves to love her as her own soul and watch over her with prayer until they meet in eternal joy.
You should console me more often through your messenger. That would also gladden me with news of how you are faring. And you would tell us about my own situation. For even if I am not granted the chance to see your beloved face again in this life — and I cannot say that without tears! I will always be joyful about you nonetheless. For I have resolved to love you as my own soul. Therefore I will watch over you with the eye of prayer! Until we arrive there together.
The Promise of Face-to-Face Vision
The letter closes with a prayer that the two women may see each other face to face forever and deserve to embrace their Beloved together in his glory.
…and so may we see each other face to face forever.✦ And may we deserve to embrace our beloved one face to face, in his glory.✦
Read the original Latin
Abbatissa in althena. hildegardi. Dominę et matri hildegardi dilectę et uenerabili in christo suęque dilectionis intimę. B. abbatissa licet immerita de althena. et peccatrix penitens. et ad pedes iesu cum Maria sedens. dilectum suum uidere sicuti est.
Congratulor uestrę beatitudini omnium feminarum dilectissima. quę sicut in delicijs euidentissimis probari potest. quem diligit anima uestra quantum mortalibus possibile est inuenistis et iamiam cum ipso in secreto cordis cubiculo feliciter uacans gustatis et uidetis quoniam suauis est dominus. Quodque ita esse perpendo. oportet me equanimiter ferre quod multo iam tempore per litteras uestras uisitare me uobis tam deuotam neglexistis. Credo enim quod si uel ad momentum aciem mentis ab intuitu dilecti uestri reflectere. atque pedem extra habitaculum quietis mouere possetis. minime omitteretis.
quin sepius me per nuncium uestrum consolari faceretis. qui et me de status uestri qualitate letificaret. et de meo nobis referret. Nam et si non dabitur mihi dilectam faciem uestram ultra in hac uita uidere quod sine lacrimis non possum dicere! leta tamen semper de uobis ero. quippe quam ut propriam animam statui diligere. Quapropter oculo orationis uidebo uos! quousque perueniamus illuc.
quo et nos inuicem eternaliter uidere. et dilectum nostrum facie ad faciem in decore suo mereamur amplecti.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Luke.10.39 — She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his word.
- ↩1John.3.2 — Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. We know that when he is revealed, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
- ↩Song.3.4;Ps.33.9 — Scarcely had I passed them when I found the one my soul loves. I held him and would not let him go until I had brought him to my mother's house, to the room of her who conceived me. Ps.33.9 — For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
- ↩1Cor.13.12 — For now we see in a mirror, dimly; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
- ↩1Cor.13.12 — For now we see in a mirror, dimly; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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