R163: Äbtissin R. von Niedermünster in Regensburg an Hildegard von Rupertsberg
Salutation and Prayerful Greeting
The abbess R. greets Hildegard with prayerful affection and offers consolation amid the loss of her ministry.
The abbess of Saint Mary's at Regensburg. To Hildegard. R. Through the grace of God, the humble stewardess of those serving at Saint Mary's lower monastery at Regensburg. To her own special friend, Hildegard. Whatever unceasing prayer can do. And worthy devotion is at work in service. If the means and the place of your serving me are taken from you.
Longing Across Distance
R. expresses her deep affection for Hildegard, separated by mountains yet united in heart through God's grace.
My affection at last makes use of this remedy. so that I may find out, as quickly as possible through the letters sent on, the well-being of each one of you. Know, dearest one, although the broken-off chasms of mountains and of springs— they would tear me away from your presence. Yet my heart, of perfect faith and love, is joined to you with goodwill. Your acquaintance, so much to be desired— and the longed-for welfare of the one who desires it, I happily ascribe not to my own merits. but to the gratuitous mercy of God, who, being devout, works devoutly with His faithful ones.
Inner Sweetness and Mutual Comfort
R. reflects on her experience of God's inner tenderness and asks Hildegard to confirm their bond through letters, then dutifully greets the sisters who have supported her.
Still, I don't think you'd believe me if I were to overstep the bounds of our friendship, because I'm enjoying it to the fullest, since I've been called by God's grace to the sweetness of an inner tenderness. When I dare or am able to speak with him a little more familiarly. I ask for the comfort of that same love. that by clear signs in your letters you might let me experience it. if, according to my request and our agreement, any memory of me should carry weight with you afterward. In the grace and leave of our authority, I greet our sisters with all the faithfulness and love I owe, in dutiful service and obedience. those who, in the spirit of God's strength, have taken up again the power of virtue. they have stood well on my behalf.
Restoration of a Sister
R. reports that the sisters have restored one who was near death through their good works, and closes with a farewell.
And, as I might say, they restored her safe and sound, going before her in your good deeds.1 They brought her back safe, rushing as she was into the very point of death.2 Farewell.
Read the original Latin
Abbatissa sanctę Marię ratisbonę. hildegardi. R. per gratiam dei humilis dispensatrix ministrantium sanctę Marię inferioris monasterij ratisbonę. speciali amicę suę hildegardi. quicquid continua oratio. et condignę seruitutis operatur deuotio. Si modus et locus uobis seruiendi mihi adimitur.
eo tandem remedio affectus meus utitur. ut utriusque hominis uestri incolomitatem per transmissas litteras quantocius experiar. Sciatis carissima quamuis prerupta montium uoragines fontium. me de uestri auellant presentia. perfectę tamen fidei et dilectionis cor meum uobis adiungitur beniuolentia. Optandam uestri noticiam. et in salutem optantis feliciter exoptatam non meis meritis ascribo. sed gratuitę pietati dei qui pius pie cum suis operatur fidelibus.
Attamen credatis me uestra non abuti amicicia quia ea plenissime fruor cum per gratiam dei ad internę dulcedinis suauitatem uocata. cum eo aliqua familiarius audeo uel ualeo conferre. Sub eiusdem caritatis solacio queso. ut certis litterarum signis me faciatis experiri. si iuxta peticionem meam et condictum memoria mei quicquam apud uos postea ualuerit. In gratia et licentia uestri quam fideliter quam amabiliter saluto sorores nostras debiti famulatus obsequio. quę in spiritu fortitudinis dei robur uirtutis resumentes. utiliter pro me steterunt.
et ut ita dicam bonis actibus uestris precedentibus. in articulum mortis ruentem saluam reddiderunt. Valete.
Notes
- 1 ↩'actibus ... precedentibus' — literally 'preceding with your good deeds/actions.' The ablative absolute sense is rendered as 'going before her in your good deeds' to capture the image of the sisters' prior virtuous conduct as a kind of spiritual escort.
- 2 ↩'in articulum mortis ruentem' — the phrase describes someone hurtling toward the moment/door of death. 'Rushing into the very point of death' preserves the urgency and physical force of ruentem.
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