R158: Hildegard von Rupertsberg an Äbtissin B. von Elten
Greeting to a Teacher in Christ's Place
Hildegard greets the abbess as a teacher in Christ's radiance and proclaims the conquering Lion of Judah.
Hildegard's reply. O you who are a teacher in the radiance of the surging spring that stands in the place of Christ. Listen. Behold, the lion from the tribe of Judah has conquered!✦ The root of David.✦ This is what it is. The Son is the splendor of the holy divinity, just as he is the root of strength. And he himself roars like a lion.
The Lion Who Casts Down and Draws Near
Hildegard explains how the lion-like power of God both casts down the wicked and draws the faithful to himself, and introduces the one path God established.
When it hurls those who imitate the first angel down into hell at the moment of his fall— so that there it drives away all injustice from itself, with gnashing teeth. But all who confess him with faith and touch him with good work, it draws to itself! And because of this, it conquers all things like a lion. Now listen to me! As you draw near. God established one path for everyone, so that all might walk in it. But two men stood on the side of that same path.
The Two Who Turned Back to Thorns
Two men who walked the path together looked back with longing at thorns and thistles, and the Lord declared they did not want him.
And one said to the other, I walk in the streets just as willingly as on the road. And the other said, So do I. And afterward they looked back at the thorns and at the thistles.✦ And they longed for them. And the Lord said to them, These men do not want me.
The Soldiers from the East Given Wings
Splendidly armored soldiers from the east declared their desire to walk the road, and God gave them the wings of an architect, shining with unquenchable light.
They don't want to fight under my banner! That's why they've been cut off from me. And soldiers in splendid armor came from the east, saying, We want to walk this road. And the Lord gave them the wings of a certain architect! And the cherubim saw them with their own eyes. But those shone with that light. And they were made so strong from that same light.
Exhortation to Share in the Good Fight
Hildegard exhorts her dear daughter to look upon the soldiers who fight the good fight, to share in their struggle, and so live forever.
because they could not be satisfied by the struggle of the good fight.✦ But other men grew weary in a short time and so perished. because they have not been fed with the food of life.✦✦ Therefore, O dear daughter of God, look upon those soldiers who are fighting. so that you may be with them in some measure. and you will live forever.✦
Read the original Latin
Responsum hildegardis. O tu quę magistra es in fulgore salientis fontis quod est in uice christi. audi. Ecce uicit leo de tribu iuda! radix dauid. Hoc tale est. Filius splendor sanctę diuinitatis uelut radix fortitudinis est. et ipse tanquam leo rugit.
quando imitantes primum angelum in casu ipsius in infernum proicit. ita quod ibi omnem iniusticiam frendentibus dentibus a se depellit. Omnes autem qui eum fide confitentur et bono opere tangunt ad se trahit! et ob hoc omnia quasi leo uincit. Nunc audi me! admouentem te. Deus omnibus uiam unam instituit ut omnes in ea ambularent. sed duo uiri in latere eiusdem uię stabant.
et alter ad alterum dixit. In plateis tam libenter quam in uia ambulo. Et alter dixit. Ita et ego. Et postea respexerunt ad spinas et ad tribulos. et illa desiderabant. Et dominus dixit eis. Isti me nolunt.
neque in uexillo meo pugnare uolunt! ideo de me abscisi sunt. Et de oriente milites in armis ualde ornati uenerunt dicentes. Ista uia ambulare uolumus. Et dominus illis pennas cuiusdam architecti dedit! et cherubin oculis suis ad illos uidit. At isti de lumine illius resplenduerunt. et de eodem lumine tam fortes facti sunt.
quod certamine boni prelij saciari non potuerunt. Alij autem uiri in breui tempore fatigati sunt et ita perierunt! quia cibo uitę pasti non sunt. Vnde o cara filia dei ad illos militantes milites respice. quatenus in aliqua parte cum eis sis. et in eternum uiues.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Rev.5.5 — And one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep. Behold, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so as to open the scroll and its seven seals.'
- ↩Rev.22.16 — I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star.
- ↩Gen.3.18 — And thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the plants of the field.
- ↩1Tim.6.12 — Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession before many witnesses.
- ↩John.6.35 — Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will not hunger, and the one who believes in me will never thirst."
- ↩Matt.4.4 — But he answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"
- ↩John.3.16 — For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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