R159: Sophia von Oudwijk an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Greeting and Desire for the Heavenly Homeland
Sophia, abbess in Altvvich, greets Hildegard and expresses her longing to renounce worldly desires and entrust herself to Hildegard's religious life.
The abbess in Altvvich. Hildegard. Blessed memory Hildegard, from Saint Robert, by sole name abbess in Altvvich, of the church of Utrecht. To enter the choir illuminated by the light of lights. Because none of us can renounce worldly desires, and yearn for the heavenly homeland with all our intention, unless it has been given to her from above with Christ's help! Therefore I wish to entrust myself to your religious life.
A God-Inspired Purpose
Sophia explains that, under God's inspiration and grace, she has conceived the desire to lay down her burden of governance and withdraw into solitude.
What, with God instigating? And with the grace of his own Spirit cooperating, I have conceived something in my mind. Our Lord does not want any of his sheep to be lost.✦ But like a good shepherd, he wants to call everyone back to the way of eternal salvation.✦✦ He has inspired my heart, I believe. So that I may lay down the burden of governance, which I carry heavily. And enclose myself in the solitude of some small cell. The desire for this purpose of mine lies close to me!
Humble Petition for Discernment
Acknowledging that fulfillment belongs to God, Sophia humbly begs Hildegard to seek the Lord's counsel about her way of life, fearing the judgment that falls on those who turn back after knowing the truth.
But being able to do it and actually carrying it through are in the Lord our God's power. So what I know is this: you are of such great merit before God that you can know, through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, what is good for a person to do. For this reason, with humble prayers I beg your piety. Would you seek the Lord's counsel for me? If my way of life is pleasing to him. Don't let that sentence fall upon me after this! Let the Gregorian note mark what it says: It had been better for them not to have known the way of truth! than after knowing it to have fallen back into something worse.
Exhortation and Farewell
Sophia exhorts Hildegard to be strong in the Lord and asks that her written response, guided by the Holy Spirit, be sent back with the bearer of the letter.
From now on, be strong in the Lord! And may your devotion not refuse to set down in writing, through the bearer [REDACTED] is present, the things I have asked for. And whatever grace of God through his Holy Spirit shall have pleased to reveal to you concerning these things.
Read the original Latin
Abbatissa in Altvvich. hildegardi. Beatę memorię hildegardi de sancto Roberto S. solo nomine abbatissa in altvvich traiectensis ęcclesię. introire chorum lumine luminum illuminatum. Quia nullus hominum ualet mundanis concupiscentijs renunciare. et ad supernam patriam omni intentione anhelare. nisi ei desursum datum fuerit christi iuuamine! ideo religioni uestrę intimare cupio.
quid deo instigante. et spiritus sui gratia cooperante conceperim in animo meo. Dominus noster qui non uult aliquam de ouibus suis esse erraneam. sed sicut bonus pastor cupit omnes reuocare ad salutis eternę uiam. inspirauit cordi meo ut puto. quatenus onus regiminis quod grauiter porto derelinquam. et me solitudini alicuius cellulę includam. Huius itaque propositi mei uelle adiacet mihi!
sed posse et consummare in domini nostri est potestate. Ergo quę scio uos apud deum tanti esse meriti quod ex spiritus sancti reuelatatione cognoscere ualeatis quid expediat homini facere. propterea humilibus precibus exoro pietatem uestram. quatenus dominum pro me uelitis consulere. si sibi placita sit conuersatio mei. ne me post hac sententia illa! gregoriana denotet quę dicit: Melius fuerat eis uiam ueritatis non cognouisse! quam post cognitionem ab ea in deterius decidisse.
De cetero ualeatis in domino! et ea quę postulaui pietas uestra non renuat mihi per presentem portitorem scriptis designare. et quicquid gratię dei per spiritum suum sanctum uobis de his placuerit reuelare.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Luke.15.4-Luke.15.7 — Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he finds it? Luke.15.5 — And when he finds it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Luke.15.6 — And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Luke.15.7 — I tell you, there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents more than over ninety-nine righteous persons who have no need of repentance.
- ↩Luke.15.4-Luke.15.7 — Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he finds it? Luke.15.5 — And when he finds it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Luke.15.6 — And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Luke.15.7 — I tell you, there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents more than over ninety-nine righteous persons who have no need of repentance.
- ↩John.10.11 — I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
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