R164: Hildegard von Rupertsberg an Äbtissin R. von Niedermünster in Regensburg
Turn Your Eyes to Your Creator
Hildegard urges the abbess to fix her gaze on God her creator, accept correction, and imitate the dove of devotion.
Hildegard's reply. O daughter of God, in the formation of the first human being. Go to your father and fix your gaze on him, so that you may do his will! For he himself created you. For in the time just past he warned you by chastising you. And he will warn you again, on account of some fault I see in you, which it is good for you to avoid. So always look to God, and make all your ways known to him. And imitate the dove of devotion.
Learn from the Dove in Exile
The soul is described as a witnessing, sorrowful exile, called to steadiness, moderation, and patience like a dove.
For she herself bears witness to every good work! And she has the sadness of an exile, the sadness of labors. Learn from this, so that you may have a pure mind. And when your mind wanders restlessly through many things, I see that it can't accomplish them. Stand firm. And learn moderation. For the dove also is moderate and steady. When fierce anger wearies you, look to the pure fountain of patience.
Calm the Storm with Patience
Hildegard teaches that anger and inner turmoil cease when one embraces the sadness and patience of the dove in this exile.
And anger soon dies down. And storm and wave of turbulent water will cease. Because a patient dove is what you are. But when you are in weariness. Namely, that natural impulse shakes you. Consider the exile of this life. And when you also pant for another life by awaiting it. Do this according to the sadness of the dove!
Gather What Is Useful for Eternal Life
The letter closes by urging the abbess to draw what is good from others and live by the dove's example for eternal life.
Gather whatever is useful from the good things of others, and live by the example of the dove! so that you may live forever.
Read the original Latin
Responsumm hildegardis. O filia dei in formatione primi hominis. ad patrem tuum accede et in ipsum ita aspice ut uoluntatem eius facias! quia ipse te creauit. In proximo enim tempore te castigando ammonuit. et adhuc monebit ob aliquam causam quam in te uideo quam tibi bonum est uitare. Vnde in deum semper asspice et omnes uias tuas illi manifesta. et columbam pietatis imitare.
Ipsa enim unumquodque opus bonum testificatur! et exulem tristiciam laborum habet. In hoc enim disce ut puram mentem habeas. et cum mens tua in inquietudine circuit multa comprehendo quę perficere non potest. in stabilitate sta. et moderationem disce. quia columba etiam moderata et stabilis est. Quando namque uehemens ira te fatigat in purum fontem pacientię aspice.
et ira mox finitur. et tempestas ac unda fluctuosę aquę cessabunt. quia columba paciens est. Sed cum in tedio es. scilicet quod naturalis motio te concutit. exilium huius uitę adtende. et cum etiam ad aliam uitam expectando anhelas. istud secundum tristiciam columbę facito!
et unaquęque utilia aliorum bonorum hominum collige et secundum exemplum columbę uiue! ut in eternum uiuas.
Epistolae: Letters to Frederick Barbarossa and Henry II of England companion
Read one voice like Hildegard's every morning
Chosen Portion delivers daily excerpts from Hildegard and 77 other historic devotional writers, free on iOS.
Hildegard directed souls through short written portions sent one at a time, and Chosen Portion continues that letter-a-day rhythm as daily devotionals.
- Daily 2-minute readings including Hildegard's letters and visions
- 78 complete historic works, translated into modern readable English
- A weekly email tracing one writer's story in depth